I don’t know what you think, but I would say the pattern of affairs is set. We know what we have to endure while Mr. Lerner is i.c.; and that is just a plain lack of savvy of what it takes to make a successful sports club (any sport, not just Villa, it would seem), yet thinking that he knows best. He’s not ‘Lernt’ a lot in my view, although it’s often been said that we could have had a worse owner.
But the telling question is, what could come next?
We hear through various sources that offers have come in from overseas in the past – though nothing suitable – and we have wondered about whether Red Bull have serious intentions. But, based on what we’ve seen these last 7-plus years, and what’s happened at various other clubs following takeover, including a change in Cardiff’s strip because the Chinese prefer red (does claret qualify if we were taken over by a Chinese/Malaysian?!), do we really want to experience another overseas investor?
As I write this, I’ve suddenly had visions of David Cameron (we know which is his favourite club!) seeking help from the Chinese regarding Villa in his recent visit to that country!
So a dramatic thought comes to my mind. Where has the entrepreneurial spirit in this country gone to? I sometimes think that we have been so taken up with selling off the country’s crown jewels these last 30 years or so that we’ve forgotten to think more positively about ourselves, the Brits.
I have no intention of turning this article into a political rant, but the principle in the sale of businesses to overseas buyers has clearly been copied in football. Is there no Brit that loves Aston Villa enough to want to buy it? If not one Brit, then why not a consortium of Brits?
It wouldn’t take much for the Tory front bench to create a take-over kitty!
Aston Villa is, despite all that’s happened these last 12 years in particular, a crown jewel in British football. It was effectively Aston Villa that led the way in how a professional club should be run and it was the first football club to build an overseas reputation. We (or, rather, William McGregor) even created the world’s first football league – and there are a fair few now!
In fact, surely Aston Villa should be able to sell itself!
What say you? Shall we create a Supporters Union with one of it’s aims being to canvas the saleability of Aston Villa to potential buyers?
Surely there has to be one good reason to build HS2?
The Author
