Former captain and cancer survivor Petrov joined the relegated club's pre-season camp in Austria but won't Roberto Di Matteo be offered a playing contract this season
Aston Villa favourite Stiliyan Petrov will not be involved with the relegated club as a player this season after he was not offered an on-field contract.
The Bulgarian midfielder had attempted a comeback after winning his battle against leukaemia, following his diagnosis in 2012, and has trained with Villa this summer.
Petrov initially retired from playing three years ago but was invited on Villa's pre-season trip to Austria in the hope he could impress first-team coaches and the new manager Roberto Di Matteo.
However, the club have now confirmed he will not make a return to on-field action.\
Di Matteo, who replaced Remi Garde, has instead offered Petrov an opportunity to remain at the club in a different role.
The Italian told the club's official website: "Stiliyan is an inspiration to all of us.
"I have spoken to him and explained my thoughts and offered him the chance to remain at the club.
"Stiliyan is going to discuss this with his family before coming back to us."
Petrov, who made 219 appearances for Villa's senior team after joining from Celtic in 2006, trained with Villa's Under-21s last season.
He was given a hero's welcome by fans when he turned out for Villa in their pre-season friendly against Worcester City, which the claret and blues won 5-1.
He's a legend and icon to them, and it's great to see the bond between players and fans being so close.
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