Coventry chairman Bryan Richardson has blasted Aston Villa over the capture of £4.5million midfielder George Boateng, claiming Dion Dublin helped prise the Dutchman from Highfield Road.

In a stunning attack the Coventry supremo also fired a broadside at Villa boss John Gregory. Gregory insisted that no underhand approach had been made ahead of Boateng's capture but Richardson is convinced Dublin was a go-between. `

`What Gregory has said is 100% inaccurate, and I feel it needs a response,'' said Richardson. ``Boateng's agent confirmed to us that he has direct approach from Villa. And Boateng himself told us he was approached by Dion Dublin. `

`It was well known at the time that Dublin spoke to Boateng not as a friend and former team-mate, but on behalf of the Aston Villa management.'' Dublin is with Villa in New York for a pre-season tournament but his agent, Struan Marshall, said: ``I am aware of Mr Richardson's comments and I shall be talking to Dion about them as soon as I can.''

Coventry lost England international Dublin to Villa last season yet Richardson denies any ill feeling between the midland rivals. ``There is no need for bad blood between the two clubs, but the way they dealt with the Dublin transfer irritated a lot of people,'' he said. `

`It has been suggested that we offered Boateng to them but there was no way we were going to pick up the phone and sell him. ``Why should we bother to ring Villa? We considered selling only because George was being unsettled by their approaches. ``Any suggestion that we offered the player, or put a price to Gregory, is rubbish.

At no stage have I spoken to their manager about the deal. ``It was done between myself and (Villa chairman) Doug Ellis,'' he insisted.

City have already reported Villa to the FA over the alleged ``poaching'' and Richardson will not let the matter rest. ``The fact that Boateng has now joined Villa does not change anything,'' he said.