MikeMcKenna

Good Man Spizz Come on folks its got be Spizz's song................ a Song written specifically about Villa by a Villa fan!

General Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have made my year! As someone else said it brings a tear to the eye. This is amazing news and yet another illustration of the new owner and boards respect for the fans and our clubs tradition! When this news gets out to the wider fanbase it will be met with even greater admiration for what you guys are doing for our club. Thank you, thank you, thank you! AGAIN!!

TOTALLY AGREE!!! General The club should make every attempt to get Ron Saunders back to Villa Park and honour him accordingly!

Hi General Nice to hear from you again! Great news about the Holte pub - can you give us anymore details? Was also at Portsmouth - it was a great day - you should have come over to see us all! Mike

My understanding of the sale of land to the Villa Leisure Centre owners was that in the event of the club being sold prior to December 2006 (when payment was due) the deal would be null and void. If anyone has the original EGM notes they can hopefully confirm that this was a condition of the deal. Maybe the General can confirm this, but I apreciate that it may also be a commercially sensitive point and that he cannot comment.

General I dont know whether this idea is feasible but maybe it is something that you could ask the relevant people to give the once over. As you can see from these boards alone, Villa has many, many avid fans overseas or who live some distance from Birmingham and for obvious reasons cannot attend many (if any) games each year. . Would it be possible to offer these fans (or indeed anyone that wants to participate) a subscription service whereby they can receive on say a bi-monthly basis, a dvd/cd showing all of the clubs home games (and away?) for the proceeding two months? The scheme could be run along similar lines to mail order music or book clubs. Members would agree to commit to say a season and pay a periodic subscription. Mr.Ellis our Former Chairman reputedly said that the club had a worldwide database of 500,000 fans. If in reality it is 200,000 and 10% of this number subscribed to such a service, in my opinion, it could generate £1-2 million in revenue per season at substantial profit margins. Prior to Randy's takeover when this idea was floated as a way of raising funds it received a very positive reaction from many fans that I corresponded with. I may be wrong but I dont know of any other club that offers such a service. I realise that there maybe rights and licensing issues with Sky and other broadcasters but feel that this could be a moneyspinner for the club. Although I am a season ticket holder I for one would definitely join such a scheme and greatly enjoy building my "collection". From a commercial perspective it would also enable Villa to build a large continuity database of subscribers from which other profitable opportunities could arise and help promote Aston Villa as an innovative and global brand.

Thanks Pete! Like the Banana comment and after he scooped that shot in 1st half how the Villa fans sang "Are you Heskey in Disguise" As ever the fans sounded great despite not having a lot to sing about!!

Bicks Brilliant idea, especially naming it after Terry Weir. Good nights work! Might be worth a pint next time I see you!

Hi General As you know there a number of Official Aston Villa Supporters Clubs based upon geographical location throughout the UK and indeed the World. Would the club consider the idea of allowing a internet based community to form an "official" supporters club? Many people linked to message boards such as Villa Talk meet up from time to time at games and for social occassions. Allowing them to form an "official" supporters club would enable them to enjoy the privileges currently available only to those linked by geographical location. Regards Mike McKenna

I assume you are talking about orange trees? :wink: :wink:

Hi General So refreshing to hear that Randy is not interested in hogging the spotlight and maintaining the traditions of the club. As 2007 it is the 25th annversary of the clubs European Cup victory I would ask that he considers an update of the home and away kits from that season and using the round version of the clubs crest. Per ardua ad astra

17 - 0 to the Villa! COME ON YOU LIONS!

We need closure

Agreed in reality if the ground was renamed to generate a truckload of cash to say MBNA Arena, we the supporters would still call it Villa Park come what may but hopefully we would have more to invest in the facilities and playing side. Ultimately whilst we are proud of our traditions, nothing now remains of the "Villa Park" of old apart from the North Stand which in itself is a monstrosity and even that is relatively modern. The only thing for me that is sacrosanct is the name of the club.

Why doesn't he ask him next time he offers to withdraw if his costs are paid by Lerner? He comes across like a blundering numpty. {edit MN, not GT} What's Neville's motive for "buying Villa" What's Lerner's motive? What are the differences? Pete Are you normally susceptible to stories in "The Telegraph"? Do you not question for one moment whether this is true?

I have no idea, but like you said its fairly obvious that they are all in it for the MONEY. I just hope that all the bidders plans are fully scrutinised to ensure that none pose a risk to the long term future of AVFC. Problem is we have to trust a certain someone to ensure this and I will not hold my breath.

Cali I dont think GT is trying to "smear" - he's not that kind of guy. Facts are Lerner IS "American" and on the face of it doesnt know anything about football/soccer. That of course doesnt mean he cannot do a good job for AVFC, but it would be nince to know what his bigger plans are.

What does Graham Taylor know about the situation? Sure he's a former manager who has no contact with the club. I think that people who have no in-depth contact with the club should refrain from making such comments about possible TO participants. No-one apart from Mr Lerner and possibly Doug Ellis and Rothschilds know the motives of Randy Lerner. Mr Lerner may well have an impressive future plan laid out for the club. Taylor simply doesn't know the man, or the intricate details of the bid. Makes me soooo mad. Joe, Neither do we know "the intricate details...." and continuing with my "devils advocate" theme, MAYBE JUST MAYBE, GT does indeed know more than we do.

do you think he will win Mike,and if you do when will it be :winkold: Fran, I am not at all certain. I am in Italy at the moment so have been out of the loop a bit, but I do not think its as clear cut as everyone thinks. What I cannot understand is: If Mr Lerner is so massively wealthy, why is there no bid on the table and why is it all taking so long? What is the hold up? His bid was supposed to be the one that would "blow all others out of the water"............... maybe its something got to do with Ellis wanting some kind of position at the club,it is very odd that there has been know bid all the same . Dont think so............ Despite reports the contrary, I believe ellis accepts and understands that there will no role for him in running the club in anyway whatsoever. The "hold up" if there is one, must amount to more than this............

That's the same crap they said about Glazier taking over ManU. But in that case, it was probably true. Look, the bottom line is that a takeover is a financial investment, I don't care who takes over the club. Neville, or anybody else is about the same thing, MONEY. It's a hypocritical (sp?)argument. :evil: Cali No offence mate, but your post is contradictory. Was it either "crap" or "true" what they wrote about Glazier? I am simply playing devils advocate here. Unlike most, I am not yet convinced who is the best owner for our club and in the absence of any hard information remain sceptical about ALL the potential bidders motives. Bandwagons in favour of one or other worry me!

Cat amongst the pigeons time............ :?: Neville ups the stakes and plans to install Taylor as Villa chairman By Gary Jacob THE battle to take over Aston Villa will intensify this week when Michael Neville is expected to raise his offer for the club to a little above the asking price. Neville has already indicated to the club’s advisers that he would offer £64 million but the Solihull businessman wants to fend off Randy Lerner, another potential buyer, who is likely to table a formal offer in the coming week. Neville believes that raising his offer is valid because Villa have the makings of a top-six side but, more importantly, some of the extra money spent could be recouped from the development of land around Villa Park. Neville was in regular contact with Martin O’Neill before the Irishman was appointed manager and has offered Graham Taylor the chance to return as chairman. Taylor, the former manager, would not be drawn on the subject yesterday, except to say that he has been in close contact with O’Neill. Taylor also questioned the credentials of Lerner, the owner of the Cleveland Browns American football franchise. “It concerns me,†he said. “He has got the money, but the Americans have a different motive (for buying Villa). What do they know about football?†http://tinyurl.com/zmcnz

do you think he will win Mike,and if you do when will it be :winkold: Fran, I am not at all certain. I am in Italy at the moment so have been out of the loop a bit, but I do not think its as clear cut as everyone thinks. What I cannot understand is: If Mr Lerner is so massively wealthy, why is there no bid on the table and why is it all taking so long? What is the hold up? His bid was supposed to be the one that would "blow all others out of the water"...............

Judging by this poll so far, it will be very interesting if Lerner doesnt win! I am not a betting man, but.............

Ciao! Malc Neville hasnt borrowed from Petchey.

Luton is also closer to MON's home?