And so, with a whimper, Aston Villa’s time as a perennial Premier League club is over.
With a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal, the only surprise was that the home team have now managed to finish second as a result of Tottenham Hotspur losing 5-1 to relegated Newcastle United.
Looking back over a campaign where Villa have barely been competent is hard. The club’s relegation – whilst not confirmed until recent weeks – has been on the cards for a long while, arguably longer than just this season. Villa, with four managers in charge during the 2015/16 – including the caretakers Kevin McDonald and Eric Black – have only been consistent in their inconsistency. Personnel changes and inconsistent tactical approaches have led the club to a position where their own identity is notable absent.

Whilst Villa have never been a flair team, or one that has proclaimed “an Aston Villa way” of getting things done, there has at least been some kind of plan of action in terms of getting points. The comparatively halcyon days of solidity at the back with the likes of Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen have been replaced with a defence that seemingly has been incapable of keeping other teams from scoring. Add that to a woefully anaemic attacking “threat” and Villa’s predicament is far from surprising.

Pinpointing the reason for the club’s downfall, however, is less than easy. From wholesale personnel changes in the summer to an inconsistent approach from Villa’s owner Randy Lerner,
the only unifying statement is that Villa have lacked a plan. Much like pretty much every decision made so far in the Lerner era, the concepts have sound acceptable in the abstract, but the execution has been far from sensible.

Whether the plan has been about maximising value for players (the root of true “Moneyball” management) or looking to bring in new personnel, Lerner has overseen a dramatic and chaotic situation whereby many managers and players will consider the club a strange place to come, at least in the current form.

New owners may, of course, change the perception, but for a club of Villa’s size, the team should not be in the position it is in. If one looks at the Premier League table in terms of wage spending, Villa should be around seven places higher up the league. To that end, Lerner is clearly paying enough to keep the playing personnel at the right level but, yet again, those who are spending the money have lacked any kind of vision of how that money is effectively spent – defenders of Remi Garde will at least have the get-out clause that Villa’s short term manager did not spend a penny on a single player during his time at the club, inheriting what was arguably – and is still – a very unbalanced and unstructured team.

The challenge for Villa come next season will be organising cohesion. In the current squad, there are players who have what it takes to be solid Championship players. Joe Bennett, Gary Gardner and Nathan Baker have all played well when they have played in the league below. Some will lament that letting the trio go out on loan was a foolish move, but the truth is that all three have been variable in the Premier League and there is still some argument for allowing them to gain experience, even with the club’s relegation.

So with the Championship the league where Villa will be when the season kicks off in August, feelings will be mixed. Fans will be hoping for a better win rate given the seemingly lower class of opposition, but the league will be a tough one to escape from. The main question will be if rather than when Villa will return. A new set of owners will potentially reinvigorate a club that has undoubtedly lost its way, but a return may not be immediate – something that fans may well have to accept following the bitter pill of relegation.

Comments 112

  1. Matt,

    Interesting article, but in respect of “Pinpointing the reason for the club’s downfall, however, is less than easy … the only unifying statement is that Villa have lacked a plan. ” to me the issue lies at the door of only one … and that is the current woner. How could it be any other reason?

    The head of any organisation, no matter what it is, needs to know his subject and be a leader. I don’t see either traits in Mr. Lerner, I’m afraid. He may not have meant ill when he took over, but over-riding any good advice given to him rather set the hallmark … and hence we are where we are.

  2. Matt
    On baker Bristol city blog the original chocolate man
    Bennet
    Poor ratings everywhere easy knowing Lambert signing creswell( westham) was also available at similar money
    Gardner couple goals but forest blogs quickly changed their views ,too injury prone to build team around
    Lerner don’t let door hit you on way out

  3. what went wrong? Lerner turning up, and as John said ignoring the professionals, simple as for me.
    Villa have been like a comedian tripping up for seasons now, you know the type starts with a banana skin, goes on for ever and ends with the comedians head in a bucket of shite.

  4. Hello Matt, hope you’re well,
    For a professional football club it seems odd that professionalism has been totally absent for at least five years. Surely common sense would tell you that CEO’s who know nothing about running a football club is a recipe for disaster, appointing a manager who only managed a youth team followed by another who’s never managed outside of France is just ridiculous. The turnover of coaches and assistants is also a clue that the club is a shambles, probably the worst run club in the entire league.
    its a shame that 500 jobs have gone, these people were probably the only ones at the club actually doing their jobs with any degree of competence while others further up the ladder continue to steal a living. Its a strange situation when virtually every fan of the club struggles to name an employee, not only players, that they want to see at VP next season, these phonies will be loathed until they’ve been disposed of and they deserve to be the most hated team in Villa’s history, inadequate is just about acceptable to actually withdraw your labour is shameful, yes, you know who i’m talking about.
    My one hope of the new owners is that they have enough funds and make it a priority to pay up the contracts of these cowards so that they never again shame the claret and blue.

  5. Evening all,

    It’s been a very difficult season and following the club has been very challenging. As you are probably all aware, I’ve been writing for the Express & Star for the past five years and churning out articles on such a regular basis (on average two a week for them for five years) has made it very hard for me to continue to write for AVL.

    However, as of today, I’ve decided to call time on my writing at the Express & Star. Hopefully this will then free me up to do more with AVL as the community has been very kind to keep things going – both in terms of John Lerwill writing articles and people for sticking around.

    So, where to next season?

    On the pitch, I think we need a rethink and that will need to come from whoever ends up buying the club. As John attests to, Randy Lerner has left us to rot really, even though he had honourable intentions. In that sense, he is the man that remains ultimately culpable, though there have been a swathe of characters who would arguably have never been employed has Lerner displayed the requisite nous.

    The sad thing for us – the fans – is that whilst Lerner can walk away, we will still remain and have to suffer the true sadness of relegation. Yes, Lerner has said he’s a fan, but his passion is no longer there (perhaps understandably) and barring the odd check of a result in the future, I doubt we’ll be seeing much of him again.

    Of course, this all relies on the club actually being sold. I’m fairly confident it’ll get wrapped up, though at what price, I’ve no idea. From my understanding the parties involved have been trying to chip away at the asking price given it is understandably a buyers market when it comes to Villa – it’ll come down to whether Lerner decides to sell up or not given he has gone back on initial contact with parties before.

    My primary concern is that the Championship is renowned for being a bit of a graveyard for clubs that are built on former glories. Yes, Villa have a more illustrious history compared to Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, but the challenge remains the same – get back out of the division, ideally before the parachute payments dry up.

    Don’t get me wrong – Villa do have potential, admittedly under new ownership. From my perspective, I feel like the energy – what little Lerner has left – is gone and that means it is in everyone’s interest for the club to be sold on if we are to get out of the Championship. Ultimately, the clock is ticking when it comes to escaping, and I remain unconvinced – as things stand – that we are just going to rebound.

    Steamer – I’m recovering from shingles but am generally OK. Been a long and rough year to date but, as I said to Deano, it’d be good to catch up once things are settled down as it’d be good to finally meet up after five years of this site being up.

    Finally, thanks again for everyone’s continued commitment to commenting, and hopefully over the close season, I can try and recruit some more people to the cause, as well as continuing with the podcast.

  6. Well done matt.

    We are screwed as things stand, need takeover, manager and new squad to just get back competing again and hopefully win a few games! But having hopefully such a huge turnover of management players etc will surly make it to much of a big ask oming back up steaight away in the bttlefield of he champ. Need things sorted asap

  7. Thanks for the leader, Matt. And thanks for keeping AVL open. I found calamine lotion great for alleviating the itching and for drying out shingles. Hope they aren’t very painful.
    Unfortunately, you’re right about the situation as things stand. A 4-0 loss pretty much sums up the season. And that’s on a day when fellow relegated club NUFC were able to thrash Spurs.
    John
    You’re exactly right. They didn’t have a solid plan. Villa need to get planning pronto.
    Steamer
    It is a shame about all those job losses. Agree certain people need to think more about that, especially the likes of a certain “one trick pony.” It is the worst tally of points in Villa’s history when considered there was a time when teams only got 2 points for a win.
    James
    You couldn’t rely on that trio, could ya? Well, the physio could.
    Mark
    Point clear.

  8. Matt,

    Really good to see you back and a well written article.

    Everything from today will get consigned to the history books we can bitch and moan as much as we like but it is all gone and we are where we are, analysing what went wrong and who is to blame only serves one purpose it seems to temper our anger slightly.

    If the takeover is on the cards I just hope we have people who know what they are doing and the task ahead of them, the championship kicks off August 8th so I make that roughly 9 to 10 weeks to rebuild this club, that includes employing new personnel at the very top, it also includes appointing a new manager one that knows the division, but the major task is a complete overall of the playing staff, all in such a short space of time.

    You can make your own mind up if you think we are going to be ready to compete in such a difficult league in such a short space of time given the added hurdles put in front of us, this includes the euros which to be fair may not seem a major problem because we will not be in the market for internationals but managers will be away doing their jobs and when you are trying to get rid of players before you can replace them it will make it all that much harder to shift players on.

    The re-build will be an arduous task and to think we will be ready in such a short space of time is being overly optimistic, it looks like the two teams going down with us are in better shape to make a fist of it and add to that the established clubs in that division who are ready to mount a challenge and you can see that next season is going to be a very difficult challenge indeed, the first job at hand is to arrest the decline and try to consolidate so I hope the new manager is up for a fight.

    SWV

  9. Matt,

    A nice follow-up post, and I’m sure we’d all like to see you around more.

    SWV,

    The fact that GT managed to get things turned round in 87-88 gives me a bit of heart; he found things at VP in a deplorable state if you remember, and had to use some guile to get the players to have the right attitude.

    But today is today and we don’t yet know who the new manager will be – hopefully the appointment will happen this week.

  10. Read somewhere that if the other two relegated teams had their points doubled they’d be in Champs Lge positions, if ours were doubled we’d still be relegated.

    Shingles …… bloomin’ painful, hope Lerner, Fox, Lescott, Richards, Faulkner, Lamebert, McKnob and Saggy all get them.

  11. Latest rumours –
    Bought by the Chinese government backed company that owns MG.

    According to Adil Ray its definitely Chinese and definitely Commoli.

  12. JL,

    Sadly I do remember it and to be fair to GT he only had to rebuild a team we are at the stage where we are rebuilding the whole club, when the takeover is finalised Krulak will be gone and I think Hollis and Little will follow to leave us without a board, not sure if Bevington is still there we never seem to hear a word from him.

    SWV

  13. JL- I hope that something can be salvaged from this wreckage of a team. I believed enough in Jan that with 4-5 players we could of mounted a revival under Garde. Our form had begun to turn to the point that although we lost our talisman Ayew at west ham (when we looked a different team for 15 mins and should of had a pen and we beat Norwich) it prompted Merson to say we would beat the struggling Liverpool team at the time.
    What happened next was a capitulation that lasted for 6 weeks, It smacked of the usual suspects taking their foot off the gas as no recruits were coming and gardes choices were limited through injury or competency.

    If those players had been brought in we may have seen at least a fightback if not survival. The question remains how many of the players that would of made Remis new look team (had he got new players) will be here in the summer? how many decent players will the incoming manager have to work his magic on? if its merely a mental problem for the likes of Richards, hutton,bacuna, lescott,Guzan,gabby I’ll eat my hat they just don’t have a clue. If that is the players we are left with then god help us as I cannot see a quick turnaround.

  14. I’d also say that possibly with the championship the promise of prem wealth has turned it into a graveyard for the likes of forest etc, clubs ability to thrive used to be based on their fanbase now its tv money inflated wages that keep bigger clubs floundering if they don’t have a sugar daddy. Very few of the championship teams are not in debt.

  15. Just have to continue waiting patiently for the announcement of the Chinese takeover, as no other news will emerge until that is complete.

    So glad that in the last few weeks, there have been some great games of football to watch on the telly, but it still is not the same as being at a packed Villa Park, and cheering on the Claret and Blue.
    Almost made a mistake today, seeing the name of the Newcastle Managing Director, Lee Chatterley….but bringing to mind another Villa old boy…Lew Chatterley…

    Will only renew my season ticket when confirmation of the takeover is announced, and I am sure that could be the case for many others, even with the promise of holding prices for the 17/18 season if you do….

  16. SWV: “Sadly I do remember it and to be fair to GT he only had to rebuild a team we are at the stage where we are rebuilding the whole club”

    Yes, I agree that there is more to be done now .. a lot more, as you say. However, GT did not just rebuild the team but he had to change the players’ ethos too – something that has been troubling our lot this season in particular. And GT got it sorted (just) in one season.

    However, if it took 2 or 3 seasons now I wouldn’t be too surprised … and that’s if we bring in a good manager and he obtains the right players.

  17. We just need Kristina back now and the family will be back together pretty much 🙂

    I’ve had shingles to on my back. Going back to work tonight though

    I went to the game yesterday. Only thing to say on that is our away fans were amazing again. Arsenal fans applauded us at the end. And the players, let’s just hope we never see them again

    Matt- You say you think maybe they are trying to chip away at the asking price. I guess that means money is a bit tight then ? No Ellison or the Chinese government who have 300 trillion to spend ?

  18. Dear oh dear, just seen the England squad, seven defenders who can’t defend, midfield players who sit on the halfway line and a mediocre bunch of strikers, half the squad aren’t even fit, ‘spose we should have expected it with a Championship level manager, home before the postcards.
    Bet Lescott and Richards are disappointed they’re not in the sqiad.

  19. Apparently the new potential owners have met with RDM

    Why do we want him as manager ? More defensive dire football. We’ve had that for 6 years now

    I’d rather Pearson

  20. i just read that frem.

    I think its a case of praying these chineaese guys will be decent….managers can come and go quickly so not too worried about rdm.

    Id say he will attract players though.

    Positive that this wyness chap will be involved….very highly thought of at everton. At last a footy man on the board!!

  21. Mcknob opening his trap again
    He wanted Joey Barton but Lerner wouldn’t allow it
    Crawl back into your cave McLeish ,zog given jenas and mutton enough idiots for one clown to sign

  22. we won something 🙂

    Worst discipline – Aston Villa (75 yellows, 3 reds)
    Unsurprisingly, the least-effective team in the division has also picked up the most yellow and red cards; chaos in defence and tactical disarray has led to Villa’s players frantically lunging into tackles and cynically shutting down counter-attacks. Idrissa Gueye (10 yellow cards) and Leandro Bacuna (eight yellows) are the worst offenders, although this is clearly a club-wide problem; 20 separate Villa players have been in the referee’s book this season.

    http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/who-were-prems-possession-kings-failed-shot-stoppers-aerial-dominators?page=0%2C1#:LdThuMHa8WvMnA

  23. I see Bevington has now also left the club, it seems like chaos is reigning at VP, thank god the season is over so we don’t have to suffer the weekly humiliation .
    I see Newcastle seem to have persuaded Benitez to stay on in the championship, that’s a massive coup and he will obviously have money to spend to ensure promotion at the first time of asking. They will go up automatically leaving one other and the lottery of the play offs. The championship has some decent teams in it, Derby, Wednesday, Hull, ( whoever doesn’t go up)Brighton, Norwich , Newcastle, plus the usual hard games against blues, Wolves, Leeds etc mean that it’s an extremely hard league to get out of, Sheff weds have been trying for 16 years.
    I really fear for us next season, these players have been thumped nearly every single week for an entire season, they have no confidence or togetherness, we need to offload as many as we can and rebuild as quickly as possible. Let’s hope the takeover if it happens comes quickly and we have a proper manager and funds to take us forward, not only in the championship but when we eventually get back up.

  24. B62,

    I think we can see that with the likes of Lyden, Toner and also Grealish seeing a fair amount of play that they will form the basis of the side next season with the addition of Clark and maybe Westwood and Traore. Gestede may stay perhaps and resume his previous success in that division.

  25. John
    I’m not so sure we are as close to a takeover as some think, and if we do sell to Rui Kang we will will be worse off than under this current clown, as they have no money themselves( not real money), they only have a profit margin of £30m per annum and cash reserves of around £75m, as on another site an accountant has managed to see their public accounts and has said we would be mad to accept there offer, this could be Randys parting gift, a real shit sandwich. If a takeover isn’t close, who is running the club? Hollis has seen his hand picked board resign leaving only the general( knob) who is Randys man, but still in the states and Brian Little on a temp basis. How can we function like this, who is going to choose/persuade a manager to join us, who is deciding contract issues, transfers etc. even basic stuff like pre season friendlies and programme. This is the biggest summer in our history and we are going into it bereft of any leadership or structure, given the euros and our league campaign starting so early, I think the only thing we can aim for is survival, we can forget about promotion, we aren’t coming back up for a fair while such is the detestation running through the club.
    We have so many players that need to leave and bring in new reinforcements, but so little time and no one to do it!!!.

  26. JL
    If we are reliant on the youth and Gestede alone, we are fucked. We finished so far behind Norwich and the Geordies it was embarassing, they have a much better starting point than us, there squads are far superior and they have managers in post . Newcastles side will romp that league if they can keep the better players( who have indicated they are staying) and offload some of their under performers.
    The transfer window opens on July 1st giving us 4/5 weeks to sort our squad out before our league campaign.

  27. B62,

    No, I don’t think for a moment that we should rely on youth alone. I was just outlining perhaps the basis of a new side – that we can identify 5 or 6 who are not likely to let us down, to be supplemented by experienced players of some value.

    As to your fears about the takeover … well, that is going to drag it’s feet by the looks of it, despite the optimistic messages put out. And you’re right, it could leave us with too short a time to prepare for the new season. But if that happens that would be just another illustration of how Lerner’s lack of nous operates.

  28. Yes they will but if there’s more than one interested party and lets say Lerner did a turnaround for his own reasons instead of taking the club forward with the new board, that means its all very recent. If that is the case maybe one or more of the parties have already gone through due diligence previously (last season) and we are on the final leg, whichever way it is they wont act until its sold.

  29. Looked the Rui Kang accts when they were first mooted as bidders but I’d suggest this is just the Chinese government purchasing vehicle and their own turnover, profits, cash reserves are not relevant to the purchase of Aston Villa. Much in the same way as Lerner created Reform Acquisitions.

    Completely agree that the quicker the sale the quicker a manager comes in and the quicker we can get rid of our dross and tie up new players on contracts that will take effect July 1.

    I’ve already accepted that mid table obscurity in the championship is the best we can hope for if the current squad is retained, if there is root and branch change then maybe my levels of hope will increase. Said it already, the longer we are away from the prem, the more investment needed just to catch up with the bottom of the prem.

    Proud History, New Future

  30. Not too concerned by Bevington’s departure, firstly he was there in an advisory capacity until the end of the season, so it may well be they no longer need his advice as the club is almost sold so the incumbent owner(s) will have their own agenda in terms of AVFC.

  31. What the fuck is Hollis doing apart from saving money for Lerner,? His ñew nen all walked or should I say ran ,as fast from the toxic stench of villa park,all that is left standing gormless Lerner,dolally general,asslicker Riley,and now rumours fox still hasn’t been fully released
    Hollis either come out and say if no sale by end of may we start preparing for next season,is i5 that hard to do that

  32. Does anyone see a way back for Saggy ? even if he’s capable of getting fit and shows a bit of effort ( he doesn’t do humility ), then, IMO, some of the crowd would still be taken in. Personally i wouldn’t let him in VP under any circumstances.

  33. By the way, his body is so shot that he couldn’t reach the fitness levels required and his actual talent is, lets be polite and say ……….. non existent.

  34. Players needed urgent
    Keeper
    Right back
    Centre half
    2 centremids
    Winger
    Striker
    Keep of squad
    Steer sarkic cissko amavi Clark okore gana vertout grealish traore Sinclair rudi ayew plus lyden green toner heburn murphy

  35. Taken from the BBC site

    ‘Although Lerner wants out of Villa, he is still concerned that his successor has the club’s best interests at heart.’

    If only Lerner had enough concern during his ownership of Villa to ensure we didn’t fall into the mire of relegation.

    Role on the sale of the club, there’s no better the devil you scenario that Damian Dugdale is suggesting, the next devil can’t be any worse.

    Proud History, New Future

  36. At last…..!!!

    BBC and many other sites saying that the Chinese deal is almost complete, and that the sale will be confirmed, along with the appointment of either de Matteo or Pearson as manager, within days, which basically confirms why Bevington has now left.

    They know they need to have all this in place, in order to achieve the advance sales of season tickets, etc…as well as making sure there is sufficient time to prepare for next season.

    Paying the same price for Villa, as Randy paid, will give the Chinese sufficient funds to pay off contracts, and buy new players. The first team contracts alone add up to 74 years worth….!!!!

  37. Darren, I personally disagree. The next devil could be much worse especially if they end up asset stripping us in a few years. If Randy is selling us at 60 million, it’s another show of financially ineptitude. He broke us but we may come back up again. With a totally immoral owner, this may never happen – look no further than Blackpool.

    It may be a false hope, but let’s hope Randy’s last act is to choose a successor who can build our future and not a destroyer who gives him a few million quid more.

  38. The only thing Lerner didn’t do was asset strip the club in terms of off the pitch, we have no assets on it.

    My glass is half full on any prospective owner, beyond selling BMH we don’t have much in the way of assets anyway so if that was sold then there would be little reason to own a football club at the top level if you don’t have training facilities.

    I can only go on the past and Lerner has destroyed the club based on decisions made either by him or in his name and by indecision, I don’t think he could have done any worse than he has since pulling the plug on MONs expenditure.

    Deadly stated he wanted to sell to the ‘right type’ and look what happened. We have no control on the decision making process so we just have to accept whoever owns us and judge them by their actions not by what actions they may take in the future.

  39. All sounding very positive for the takeover — keep checking the news for updates

    just checked the link steamer – would be awesome to have owners with that much clout

    not at all worried that we will have owners that are worse than the last two
    onwards and upwards UTV

    Nice to see you posting again Monty

  40. Well its getting exciting….will be so happy to see the back of the learner/fox/faulkner era. jesus wept the guys a moron. He has spent about 250mill on us in 10 years and ballsed it all up. It should show us that money is only half of it. Unless we have good people in place it means nothing. Allthough its exciting wanting multi billionaires they need to be clued up and not stupid.

  41. Looks defo that wyness and camoli will be in place…some dont seem to rate them but personally ill be very happy.

    seems defo the owners are chinease but unsure who. and manager di matteo or pearson…happy with either

  42. i would bloody love the new guys to come in and tear all there contracts up and boot them out with there loose change. The only ones id like to keep are grealish, ayew, gana, adama, amavi. the rest i couldnt care less. maybe vertout actully. Wonder if pearson gets the job he could get a tune out of him….wanted at lester

  43. My worry is we are going to get a new owner, that is a real chancer( even worse than the yank plank). We have no choice but to sell, I just have a nagging fear we will less Man City or leicester and more Fulham, Leeds, Pompey etc.
    Plenty of rumours Hollis is currently in China finalising a deal!! We need a massive turnover of playing staff, let’s hope whoever comes in chooses the right manager to oversee the gigantic task that is AVFC

  44. This bloke is the’latest’ new owner-
    Dr.Tony Xia

    Dunno about that with Hollis being in the vicinity of China last week but then again you have the USA connection.

  45. Seems like Hollis is doing all he can to secure the clubs future – if he pull off a good deal for the club he should be given the freedom of Birmingham

  46. If Hollis gets us a responsible new owner i hope Lerner doesn’t milk it with “i said if i couldn’t move the club on i’d find someone who could,” because he doesn’t give a monkeys and hasn’t played a part in any negotiations only through Hollis who as Runtingz said has been excellent.
    Hope the new owner gets that name tag off the Witton Lane stand, theirs a whole generation of fans who have grown up in the belief that Herbert was not only an asset to AVFC but a major player in our successes of the early 80’s. Cleanse VP of anything to do with Lerner and Ellis, exorcise the place.

  47. Steamer,

    I think you might have been closer with that chippy owner in Rochdale.

    Another day another owner that’s nine in two weeks, well good old Randolph buys the mighty Aston Villa ten years ago for £67m and sells at a loss for £60m, his parents would be mighty proud just goes to show that University education was well worth the money, lets hope the new man, men, group, consortium blah blah have a slightly better idea of how to run a major sporting institution, could this be a brave new beginning or another episode in the long running soap Aston Villa Street.

    SWV

  48. RDM is prob a coup for us frem after mcleish, lamberk, timbo and nice but dim (forgot his name)!! Dont forget we are in the championship and the mans won the bloody champ league at end of day. Will attract players too.

    Straight off the bat these new guys are a million times better than randy if its true that wyass bloke chief exec from everton is coming on the board and comili in. 2 people who know there jobs and more importantly about footy!! Randys first job was to sack them all!!

  49. I really hope we don’t get RDM too
    that would be the first sore point from any new owner

    get Pearson in and get straight back up

  50. Announcement in China….

    “Aston Villa are pleased to announce that agreement has been signed today for the sale of 100% ownership by Randy Lerner to Recon Group owned by Dr. Tony Xia subject to the approval of the Premier League and Football League.”

    Recon is one of China’s largest businesses in the urbanisation, health and food sectors, amongst other activities all over the world.

    Dr Tony Xia will become chairman of Aston Villa.
    Rui Kang are owned by the Chinese government and deal mainly in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, but are keen to diversify into football.

    0200hrs Chinese time….

    Roberto de Matteo to be announced as manager, on completion of the league approval.

  51. How many years have villa posted a loss,who was loss paid to?,one of Randy holding companies,
    Randy paid pittance for a debt free club,decent squad with mellborg laursen Barry angel,compared to Richards lescott Hutton and flabby,employed yes men to cover up his mistakes which cost us villa fans McLeish Lambert Faulkner and fox,Sherwood garde and Mon wouldn’t play Lerner’s game they had to go all well paid mind
    So I feel no sorrow for Lerner and media saying he lost money,I hope he ends up like the 2 characters in Eddie Murphy film pennyless broke see where all his bought buddies general are then

  52. Maybe Frem,

    but I do not think so. Steve Hollis flew to China yesterday to complete the signing

    We will have to wait and see. I am sure that the knowledge of what was happening, was behind the big money going on di Matteo at the w/e and the odds being slashed, and in some cases, no more bets being accepted.

  53. Whoever buys the club i hope they employ Little, Bernstein and King to add gravitas, experience and knowledge to what will be a new board.
    Don’t know about RdM only from interviews on the old Gazzetta Football Italia, i don’t think the players will be intimidated into upping the effort levels. Its a similar situation to Garde, in the Prem he could build from players at that or similar level wheras now he’s going into virtually unchartered territory, i’d prefer Pearson at this stage, think i’ll start a campaign to get rid of the new owners.

  54. Rui Kang Group acquired Vila please marshal led the team Chongchao desire to return to peak
    2016-05-18 02:00 Sina Sports 5 Favorites
      English Premier League veteran closer Esidunwei years has been poor management, boss Randy. Lerner also think of killing themselves, two years ago, issued a statement on the club wants to sell all the shares. Once media tracking, Oracle’s Ellison and a consortium of America’s wealthiest China entered the final race, and broke the news “matchmaker” to Wanda Wang Jianlin locked Chinese consortium of wealthy candidates. Yesterday, Vera officially announced Chinese consortium won the last competition, but the real buyers surfaced in China is not Wanda Group, but also based in Beijing Rui Kang Group (Recon Group), Chairman Mr. Kang Rui Xia system will be built Villa new chairman of the club.

      British media: Villa Lerner era is over

      Yesterday, the British media took the lead disclosing this news. “Daily Mirror” said “Vera Lerner era ending”; “Sun” said, “the first Chinese person holding old Premier League club”; followed by Vera official website has updated information acquisition ……

      Aston Villa Club is pleased to announce that Randy. Mr. Lerner has been transferred to a 100% stake in the club to Mr. Xia build consensus as a system controller and Rui Kang Group signed an agreement to wait for the Premier League and FA approval of the transaction and completion of the settlement. Rui Kang Group is China’s largest city and smart city and health industry and food industry groups, a broad range of business worldwide. Dr. Xia Jian system will become the club’s new president. (original:

      Aston Villa Football Club is pleased to announce that an agreement has been signed today for the sale of 100% ownership by Randy Lerner to Recon Group owned by Dr.Tony Xia subject to the approval of the Premier League and the Football League. Recon Group is one of the China’s largest business in the urbanisation and health and food sectors amongst other activities all over the world. Dr. Tony Xia will become Chairman of Aston Villa. )

      Rui Hong Group: to become China Sports Industry International Pathfinder

      British media has been and is a veteran of this family include the transfer of the royal favorite club progress very concerned. Before the formal official announcement, it has a variety of news everywhere. After Rui Kang Group, through its Hong Kong Rui Kang Sports Culture Group indirectly acquired the Villa Club, as Rui Kang Group summer construction system relatively low-key principle of doing things and, even in the FA accepted the transfer documents of approval for “Rui Kang” (Rui Kang) also guess the word trouble Oolong, the British media did not start to figure out the true identity of the buyer, as a mistake Rui Kang Group is headquartered in Hong Kong, Ruikang medicine, said that this is a state-owned enterprises. (Original: Hong Kong based Rui Kang are owned by the Chinese government and deal mainly in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products but are keen to diversify into football.)

      Rui Kang Group is headquartered in Beijing, we are committed to the new wisdom economy industry practice of pluralism capital industry groups, business segments including smart cities, health and agriculture, new energy and intelligent transportation, innovative finance, tourism, and sports and cultural industries. In recent years, Rui Kang Group in industry and capital market movements continued. Last year, Rui Kang companies engaged in the construction and operation of the smart city day summer science and technology to be acquired A-share listed companies Softto and renamed days Xia Zhihui (000662.SZ). Two years ago, Rui Kang Group acquired serious adverse operating state-owned enterprises listed Lianhuaweijing flavor industry leader, with more than a year to achieve a business turnaround, restructuring the company changed its name to Lotus Health (600186.SH), the company gradually enter Great food and the health services.

      The successful acquisition of Villa Club as an opportunity Rui Rui Kang Kang Group set up sports and cultural groups, and formally announced its entry into the football and sports industry. As committed to its mission to create health products and services company, Rui Kang will uphold the creation of human mind and dreams of a healthy life, so that more people feel and experience the culture of football and sport to bring you health and happiness.

      The Premier League as holding companies of China, as China Rui Kang hopes to football and sports industry international Pathfinder, learn advanced football philosophy and industry management experience, to enhance the level of Chinese football, football culture into the world to make a parts of modest means. For the football club regarded as the city’s most precious cultural assets in English football is concerned, Rui Kang overwhelmed by the takeover is successful, becoming the first Premier League club holding a Chinese company, a significance far beyond the merger business itself.

      New club PRESIDENT: Please marshal coach Vera

      Rui Kang Group, the actual controller, Zhejiang summer construction system is a truly international perspective investors. Public information, Xia had studied at Harvard University, to create science and technology summer days after returning home, smart city quickly, budding field of Information Engineering, and in 2009 selected the first batch of national “people plan.” These returnees entrepreneurs of both industry and the quality of financial, investment hot look on the various areas of the world, can be said that a new generation of truly international.

      Aston Villa is one of England’s top league history’s most successful club. Team founder William McGregor founded the English league system, and became the first English league football league chairman, called “the father of modern football.” McGregor statue in Villa Park Square, also became a pilgrimage to England fans worldwide focus attractions. 19 century, the last seven seasons, the team won five league titles, becoming the dominant England professional football in ancient times. Second half of the 20th century, Villa ZTE realized in 1982 that is the pinnacle of European club football on board, won the European Champions Cup.

      It was also during this period, including the current British Prime Minister David Cameron has become the team’s loyal fans, then, his uncle is the Chairman of the club Villa. As he is so famous families in Vila large number of fans, such as the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, the future king of England. William became the team’s iron Vera, Vera reportedly because of the unique charm – both a long history and tradition, but also a unique strength of character, the big winner though not everyone loves, but always in the top of the stage plays place.

      Unfortunately, due to continuous years of operation confusion, team coaching change this season, four times which led to poor performance, a hundred years for the first time to suffer the fate of relegation, will campaign next season Vera Championship. But accustomed to top-flight campaign Vera, the goal will be returned to the Premier League next season must be completed. However, the club revealed the new Chairman of the summer to build the system, not the White wantonly burn buy players, go to Manchester City, Chelsea-style pattern rise, on the contrary, will be retained in the case of the core team of key players, reinforcing a plurality of positions, more importantly, to re-perfect team and the club management will be invited to determine who is familiar with the Premier League within a month, the Championship of well-known top coaches led campaign. It is reported that coach candidates have been initially identified, the two sides are close to an agreement after repeated negotiations and will soon be published, it seems to return to the Premier League next season Vera dawn in sight.

  55. I think the people who benefit from the RDM link the most is the bookies

    it doesn’t add up as to why we would go for him now – he won champs lge with someone else’s team and the amount chelski had spent along with the like of Drogba , lamps ect meant they were likely to scrap a win at some stage so i wouldn’t put that win down to him

    they then started the next season al over the shop

  56. Dunno what that translation is about, they say Rui Kang own us now and the say Dr. Tony is Chairman. I read somewhere that RK had recently been taken over, just wondering if if was Recon Group that bought them.

  57. Have to make sure VP doesn’t come to be known as Take (the points) Aways Park.
    Be nice to get the ownership thing out of the way ASAP.

  58. *******************************************************

    The Beeb have announced it, so it must be true!

    Tony has bought ‘us’. For £60m.

    ********************************************************

  59. Frem- oh yes he is, says he’s got huge plans for villa, wants to make them the no1 club in China, Fox would wet himself over the shirt sales

  60. official site –
    In spite of my personal affection for reading history I have come to trust the future more than the past. And when I refer to the ‘past,’ I do so lightly and lightheartedly. I refer to recent accounts – mostly in the press regarding the sale of the Club, that are so many miles from accuracy or truth that I can only assume that they too were written by people whose tongues were firmly embedded in their respective cheeks. It is football after all.

    As I’ve said, it was my hope that ownership and custodianship of the Club would have been transferred some years ago when I knew that personal and professional matters made it impossible for me to contribute the time I did in my first five years with the Club. Time and immersion that is crucial to any formula for success. Still, fates are fickle in football so that we could claw back to safety last season, end up at Wembley at a Cup Final sitting amongst old friends!, and then spend the 2015/16 campaign at Bannockburn!

    As I expect this to be my last message to supporters through the Villa website I thought it worth reiterating that my approach from the beginning, consistent with my longstanding affection for The Trinity, was in three parts: Villa Park infrastructure, Bodymoor Heath infrastructure and the Villa squad. I have a sneaking suspicion that my best chance of any tolerable memories in this regard will lie with the father and son of this trinity…! In the end, however, so many wonderful young players came through Villa during my time and it is to them and supporters alike whom I am indebted. Also, of course, I wish – without mentioning names, to say thank you to countless people with whom I worked at Villa Park and BMH who have touched me personally and from whom I have learned so much.

    Finally, being conscious of the popular and dark pastime of wondering aloud how much was spent, or lost, I should like to think that I ‘left behind’ value which will hopefully endure and benefit this beloved old Club. In being sadly more than tone deaf, I’ll not weakly risk trying to sound any positive notes. But what I will say is that if spending to restore and preserve the wonderful Jacobean Holte Hotel at the southern tip of the Ground, or researching and adding the Holte End mosaic as a nostalgic nod to that wonderful Leitch Stand of our past, add to the tally of personal losses then I can offer no counter argument other than to say I would do the same all over!

    It is here that the agreement I wish to announce with Tony Xia ties into my short narrative: Tony has built his career around infrastructure. He is certainly a hugely successful businessman but importantly for me he is passionate about architecture, site design and planning. His commitment to invest in the squad, and leadership at Bodymoor Heath was expressed early on but as we visited together, and had some unrushed time to discuss his plans, Tony’s excitement to develop Villa Park shone through. I remain convinced that this is a crucial part of the Club’s future as it provides a critical, long-term second source of revenue and therefore sustainability for the Club from which squad-funding can potentially come.

    It is with that that I want to say thank you, and to wish Tony every success going forward.

  61. 27billion Euros i bet the vermin are right Moby Dick, in our shadow since 1875 and shortly to become a speck of dust on our forthcoming trophies, geddddiiitttt right up ya ya scum.

  62. Personally I am hugely sad (if he’s been a Villa fan “for years”, as stated) that he’s waited all this time to say “the price is right”.

    If you’re such a Villa fan you’d be in at least a year ago before it got too much of a mess, surely? But – as always – money talks first; whether Villa get relegated is a secondary issue it seems.

  63. Super duper amazing news and opening statement from TX , great background to which points towards success f

    steamer what is being redeveloped ?

  64. is that a prezzie from Randy ?

    i did read the statement and maybe i aint clever enough but i could make head nor tail of most of it

  65. The interesting part for me was that their was a UK bid and an American bid, i wonder if that was Oracle, its been speculated that Oracle was turned down but who could turn that company down ?
    Must say Mr Hollis seems to have done us proud.

  66. yeah huge big up to Steve Hollis , he didnt mess about in his short time — i hope there is a place for him , clearly a clever man who has worked his socks off to bring us to a point we have been desperate to get too

  67. Runtings I think Randy is massively into his history and architecture and he’s found a fellow spirit in Tony X, their friendship may have lowered the price somewhat in exchange for certain stipulations like developing villa park

  68. Runtings: “Super duper amazing news and opening statement from TX “

    Well, I’ve just said that a *real* Villa fan would not have left the club to creak to its lowest level before buying the club. A man worth 9bn has got plenty spare to have bought for £150m at least, last year.

    To me it confirms that it’s all business and it confirms also that there are no such things as “fans” any more … you *are* customers, and that’s how you’ll be treated, with sweateners from time-to-time to make everything *seem* that you’re highly thought of.

    The concept of “club” has gone down the drain.

    Sorry for the dampener on things, but if you’ll just stand back a pace or two you should see what I am talking about…

  69. http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2016/05/former_cleveland_browns_boss_r.html?

    get the knife in 🙂

    Agree with JL it’s a money thing to buy us now as opposed to last year but I’ll not judge until I see the actions of the man. The happy clappers will probably be ok with a free scarf but at least give the new owner time to settle in.

    Remember Wyness and Comolli are part of this deal too, seasoned pros at boardroom level and ‘football people’.

    I’m over the frickin moon that the loon Lerner is gone even judging his goodbye statement tells me he’s well versed in language and the use of it but completely out of his depth as an owner of from his perspective is a business. The language was very emotive but lacked passion but not the language of business either

    Proud History, New Future starts today but it’s imperative that the very same supporters groups that were meeting Hollis previously, don’t get carried away but also learn the lessons over the overspending early years that led to the frugal recent years.

    We’re coming for you, We’re coming for you. Look out Small Heath, We’re coming for you.

    A big Cead Mile Failte to the new owners of AVFC

  70. Well the dust has started to settle after the madness of yesterday evening.
    It was a bit of if Carlsberg did Wednesday’s ! Randy leaves, Villa taken over by Rich consortium, Liverpool lose and loads of scouters crying on TV 😉
    Although it’s prob the Swiss police fault they were fighting and throwing missiles into the Sevilla disabled and family section, and rocking up without tickets.
    I’m still wary of the new owner and there are mixed reports on him and his companies on the web. Like D’OR I’ll judge him on his actions, but RL has taught us all we need to temper our excitement as it can go very wrong very quickly.
    Big summer ahead of us lets get a manager in and start overhauling the squad UTV SOTC

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