Stephen Ireland has agreed a new three-year deal with Stoke City [GETTY]
Villa manager Paul Lambert, who barely played Ireland and showed him the door, made sure he would not come back to haunt him by having a clause inserted into his old contract at Stoke.
Paul lambert described Ireland's Villa exit as disappointing [GETTY]
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When Ireland left for Stoke initially on loan, it meant he could not play against Villa anyway and then, when the Potters made it a permanent signing in January, Lambert insisted the clause was kept in, even though he was now a Stoke player.
"It's the way the jungle is, you try and win at every cost," said Lambert. " It's the way football is now, everybody tries to get every advantage they can."
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