Reports earlier this week had linked the Scot with a switch to Villa’s Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

But responding to questions by supporters on social media, the man dubbed the Scottish Cafu by fans stated: “I am staying where I am.”

Signed by Alex McLeish in the summer of 2011, he has experienced one of the more unusual Villa careers, at one point not appearing for the first team for more than two years during Paul Lambert’s reign.

But he has been a mainstay of the team for the past three seasons and was one of the club’s better performers last term, notching up 36 appearances in all competitions and triggering a clause which saw his contract extended by a further year.

Club bosses are meanwhile hopeful the coup of signing John Terry will boost season ticket sales.

More than 20,000 have already been sold ahead of the new campaign and chief executive Keith Wyness believes the arrival of Terry could prove a major draw.

He said: “I do expect the first few games of the season for there to be a few extra thousand on the gate. We are certainly going to get more attention... season tickets are flying.”