Randy Lerner.
In recent days, the name alone now is enough to split the views of Aston Villa fans. Seen by many as a benefactor who has channelled in large amounts of his own money, recent decisions to appoint an unfavourably viewed manager coupled with rumours of a cut in transfer spending may see Randy’s approval rate drop significantly.
Silence isn’t always a virtue
As long time fans of the club are aware, the board doesn’t engage with the club besides in tersely worded statements that often smack of PR. No fan expects a thorough and full divulgence of things like transfer and managerial targets, but there really could be a lot better way to talk to the fans. Whether this involves detailing what the club perceives as a plan of financial austerity or imprudence, or simply a communication that might warm fans to the seemingly distant (and often perceived as uniformed) board members, some lines of communication could help smooth things over.
The fact that Randy Lerner has invested over £200m during his tenure between buying the club, investing in transfers, and building the brand indicates that he is committed to (or at the very least has been committed to) the ongoing funding of development at the club. However, his decision to stay silent and instead leave the much maligned Charles “General PR” Krulak in charge of communication is not one of his better choices.
Whatever your view on the public personas of our board, and whether one wants to view the appointment of Alex McLeish as a shrewd managerial move, or a shrewd financial move is likely to be coloured by the purchases of players in the coming transfer window.
To that end purchases of average “cheap” footballers will invariably solidify fan view that Lerner is either out of money to spend, is looking to make some money for himself or, in all likelihood, is adopting an approach more in keeping with the Financial Fair Play regulations.
To postulate either way at present would be jumping the gun. After all, we can’t know what Randy will spend as it is doubtful we even have had clubs accept offers for the players we are interested in, let alone purchased them. I know this might be seen as a fence sitting view, but committing to wholly supporting policy or rejecting it would be based on rash and emotional suggestions, rather than solid facts and figures.
Fact not fiction
Once the transfer windows has closed and Aston Villa have their new signings in, and player having left who are wanting out, we will be in a good position to assess where things are going. By that time we will have had three games out the way, and an indication of how the team are going to play. If it is going to be the same as how Birmingham conducted their football then I imagine there will be plenty of fans who will be unhappy. I will certainly be one of them.
However, if McLeish signs prudently and we start playing football more akin to what we expect at Villa, then I think we might have people convinced that Alex McLeish can do some big things for Villa – even if the cynic in me says that McLeish signed on because he couldn’t lose taking the job rather than taking it because of any love for the club.
It’s going to be a tough few months Villa fans, but we will be here at the end of it, and at the end of this season and every other season. Players, managers, and board members come and go, but we remain.
Villa till I die.
The Author
