Boateng: Could he be the next to move? (CliveBrunskill/Allsport)

On a day when David James claimed he had been forced out of Villa Park, the midfielder suggested the goalkeeper's departure, and that of Gareth Southgate, were symptomatic of a much deeper malaise within the club.

Despite manager John Gregory's best efforts to insist that Villa are still a big club, Boateng's attack will leave no-one in any doubt that there is a crisis facing the Midlands giants.

The Dutchman, 25, alleged that Villa have bought what success they have had on the cheap and claimed that the club should review its wage structure. More chillingly, he predicted that other players were ready to follow out of the exit door.

Speaking on his website, Boateng said: 'I've never known a club where so many people want to leave. You don't hear it from many clubs and it will hurt morale. It's a big problem that both Gareth and Ugo Ehiogu left us for Middlesbrough. It's a shame because I think they are a smaller club.

'We can't keep losing players for financial reasons. Dwight Yorke was the first and it has continued with Gareth and Ugo. We must start spending, according to where the club wants to go.

'If Villa end up sixth or seventh, they are actually getting a bargain considering the money they spend on players.'

James added another twist to the plot when he revealed that he did not want to leave Villa and only had talks with West Ham out of courtesy to their manager Glenn Roeder, whom he worked with at Watford.

After completing a £3.5million switch to Upton Park, James said: 'Aston Villa accepted an offer from West Ham - I didn't want to leave Villa.

'Because of the history I have with Glenn from our time at Watford together, and because Villa had accepted his offer for me, I came down to London to have a conversation with him.

'I did not come with my mind made up that I would be leaving Villa Park. Just because I was speaking to Glenn and because Villa didn't necessarily want me, that didn't mean I had to leave.'

James also maintained that he does not expect problems with new team-mate Paolo di Canio following their much-publicised spat when Villa played West Ham two seasons ago, adding: 'Paolo and I shook hands the last time we played and that is gone.'

As Leicester manager Peter Taylor ruled out the possibility of Tim Flowers leaving to replace James, the unrest and lack of activity in the transfer market struck a chord with Villa fans, who are desperate to know what is happening at the club.