Pray for the Villa

[Stanley Edwards]

I really don't want Villa to become another Chelski or, Man U or, Arsenal

Just Villa but, better.

 

[aylee]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5207620.stm

Neville group makes bid for Villa

A consortium fronted by lifelong Aston Villa fan Michael Neville has submitted a £64m bid to buy the club.

Neville was part of a group that bid unsuccessfully when chairman Doug Ellis put the club up for sale last season.

Solihull businessman Neville has since assembled new backers to enable him to make a concrete offer to Ellis.

Ellis has also talked to American Randy Lerner but the billionaire owner of NFL outfit Cleveland Browns has yet to make a formal offer.

The 82-year-old Villa chairman, who has a 39% controlling stake in Villa, returned from holiday in Spain on Tuesday and is believed to be ready to explore options to sell the club.

It is understood Ellis has been told by Neville he will still have a role to play at Villa.

Neville has respect for Ellis' business acumen, vast experience and the ability to run a sound financial ship although it is unclear what position he would hold if the bid is successful.

Although Neville was part of a group which failed in a bid last season, he feels he has the backers to succeed this time round.

But he also hinted that that if this bid fails, he will not try for a third time.

Neville has attempted to seize the initiative by making his bid public ahead of Lerner developing his plans.

Neville said: "I don't want to talk about backers but I do think I have the capacity to get this done this time.

"I'm still progressing with the bid and one way or another, for the good of everybody, it has to happen in the next few days.

I want to make this club great again

"But Doug Ellis does not have to sell Aston Villa Football Club."

Neville is hoping that his Birmingham connections will win over Ellis and the present Aston Villa board.

"I grew up in Erdington and Aston," he told BBC Five Live Sport. "I understand the area, the supporters and the culture.

"The fans are the lifeblood of any football club so I would want a very close collaboration with them.

"I am a local boy and I have the best interests of the club at heart - for the long term. I want to invest in the players and the stadium.

"I want to make this club great again, Aston Villa should not be where it is."

Lerner, 44, has emerged as a strong player with an estimated £1.4bn fortune behind him.

He is chairman of credit card company MBNA and the Cleveland Browns which he owns are reckoned to be the seventh richest NFL club.

Lerner is understood to have already run the rule over Villa Park and the club's training ground complex at Bodymoor Heath.

If Ellis sells, both bidders are likely to make Martin O'Neill their top choice to succeed David O'Leary as manager.

Will be interesting to see if Lerner makes a bid himself now. But whichever way it goes, it looks like things are finally about to change at Villa Park.

 

[Macaroni Pony]

Will be interesting to see if Lerner makes a bid himself now.

'friad not - Doug strikes yet again.....

Lerner pulled out of the race on Wednesday after his talks with Villa chairman Doug Ellis.

Lerner, 44, the owner of NFL outfit Cleveland Browns, was reportedly angry with the way Ellis handled talks.

Never fear, Sven's gonna save us!

Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent Athole Still is reportedly part of a consortium keen on buying Aston Villa.

link

 

[aylee]

Apparently, Ellis refused to meet Lerner, who had flown from America specifically to see him and the club.

Can you believe the discourtesy of the man?

 

[Macaroni Pony]

Hmmm, the more i think about all this, the more its not adding up - why would a billionaire invest time and money in a project, then stomp off straight away?

I think there's a lot of "business" tactics going on here and we won't know the truth for a while.

There's a lot of talk of a £100m transfer kitty available

Think of all the Juan Pablo Angels we could buy with that....

 

[g force]

And Ulysees De La Cruz's

 

[Termite Man]

The thought of O'Leary out, Ellis out and in their place Martin O'Neil as manager and a new owner with big bucks is a dream come true for Villains

I would never pray for Martin to be villa manager


Would you be happy if I prayed for someone else to manage you ?

 

[maximilian ping]

I would never pray for Martin to be villa manager


Would you be happy if I prayed for someone else to manage you ?

No. and if i catch you preying for G Sounness i'll be very angry