Morley_crosses_to_Withe

He respects tradition, he's not a showboater, he's fan and player-friendly and has a lot of money - I don't know what more you could ask for in an owner."

Don't you wish your club was owned by someone like that?

Well if you are an Aston Villa fan, your wish may be about to come true, according to American sports journalist Tony Grossi.

The fairy godfather in question is Randy Lerner, who owns American football team the Cleveland Browns, and is close to buying Villa from long-serving chairman Doug Ellis for £62.6m.

Grossi covers the Browns for the Cleveland Plaindealer newspaper and has observed Lerner at close quarters.

He is impressed by what he has seen and believes Villa fans should have every reason to feel happy about the transaction.

"He likes the tradition - fans should feel good about him," said Grossi.

"Lerner grew up in Cleveland and knows the team's history, and wants to get them to the point where they're winning again, so people can pass on their memories.

"I'm sure that is what appeals to him about Aston Villa."

When the Cleveland Browns franchise moved to Baltimore in 1995, Lerner Snr paid a then-National Football League record $530m to bring the team back home.

Lerner Jnr assumed ownership in 2002 when his father died and since then has devoted his efforts and money to trying to restore the glory days to the team he loves.

If Lerner does take charge at Villa, his style of management will be very different to that of predecessor Ellis.

"When the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys were big winners, no-one knew who the owners were. That's the way Lerner likes it at his team," revealed Grossi.

"He is a laid-back person, who hires people to do the managing and lets them get on with it.

Any time I asked him about branching out into other sporting endeavours, he always said his total passion and energy were with the Browns

Tony Grossi

"He is media shy, which is one reason why I don't understand him getting involved in English football - he doesn't appear in front of the camera much, rarely speaks and is happy to be in the background."

Indeed, Grossi says he was surprised to hear about such a low-key individual choosing to enter such a high-profile arena as the Premiership.

"Any time I asked him about branching out into other sporting endeavours, he always said his total passion and energy were with the Browns."

Any talk of American investment in English football inevitably draws comparisons with the Glazer family's controversial purchase of Manchester United - and the debts that incurred.

But Grossi says he cannot see any such problems at Villa.

"All the profits are split between clubs in the NFL and Cleveland ticket prices are a little below market value," he said.

"He often gets a hard time from other owners because they want to raise prices but he is very fan conscious and doesn't want to upset them."

Greg Brady of Detroit sports radio station WDFN says he can see similarities between the Browns and Villa.

"The Browns have had some close calls but never made it to the Super Bowl. Villa are a bit like that," he said.

The Glazer family's takeover of Manchester United upset many fans

"They often have a nice run to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup but you don't think of them being in the elite group of teams.

"Maybe Lerner will give them a chance to play with the big boys."

Brady said Villa's level of expectation is likely to ensure Lerner avoids finding himself in such a high-pressure situation as the Glazers at Old Trafford.

"Manchester United can always go out and spend if they have to but Villa aren't like that," he stated.

"Every year you look at them and think 'maybe a Uefa spot', so what is there for them to lose?

"It might be too late to have a huge impact this season but if he is prepared to open his wallet, they could be ready to fight with the Arsenals of the world for important players."

Since arriving at Cleveland, Lerner has not waved a magic wand to solve their on-the-field problems - they have not managed to win more than half of their games in any of the last three seasons.

But Brady says that given time, Lerner could bring an end to Villa's years of stagnation.

"I'm sure he knows what happened with Glazer, so he can't just go in and start raising ticket prices," said Brady.

"But if you're a Villa fan, why not give it a roll of the dice?

"How they win is based more on manager Martin O'Neill, but he needs players and it looks like Randy Lerner may get the pocket book out. It looks like the pieces could be in place."

Here

And before anyone starts, the Cleveland Browns' success has been restricted by certain NFL rules which DO NOT apply (obviously ) to English football.

So, when you talk about "taking money out of the club" you mean "being paid for his role as chairman"?

I think you'll find that the same thing happens at every company.

Chairmen within other companies that have failed to post a profit for years, would have probably stepped down/been forced out.

The timescale for a 'typical' takeover is around 90 days

The trick is realising how far down this "90 days" we are.

.

Well over 60 imo

I wish PB, but think it's highly unlikely.

Let's consider that around the 14 days mark, the board write to the shareholders to inform them of their views on a particular offer. We haven't even had this yet, and the timescale of a 'typical'* takeover stretches another 70 or so days past this.

Conclusion - Ellis should hurry it up a little.

*I use the word typical loosely

Where's the option for... 'None, I'd like to keep Ellis'. 8)

(P.S Vote Lerner).

The timescale for a 'typical' takeover is around 90 days.

Let's hope this doesn't become a 'typical' takeover and that it's concluded in a lot less time.

Lerner - well, theres more available to 'learn' about him. He will put his money in. He will put people who are good at their job in the roles and let them do it. No interference, nothing - that's the way he's done it in the US. He respects tradition and as we know by now, has had a chat with VFC. Of course, being a billionaire helps, but remember - that's only a US Dollar Billionaire. It's his whole ethos about how to run sport teams.

Thats a point that would mean that he has only around 500million, which isnt much for a main investor!

I believe it's actually $1.2 Billion - which works at about £800million.

Well, at the current exchange rate it's actually about £629M (ish).

But, more importantly..

That's still a shit load more than Ellis has ever had!!!

I totally agree John. He and Athole Still have remained silent throughout this, adhering to the rules and when asked have said NO COMMENT. They are big time players and know the rules. The others it seems are all too eager to talk and give details when they could simply say NO COMMENT.

I said before, I know who I'd rather have running my club. Experience is counts for everything, and sport is a unique business. I wnat people who are experienced in the global sports market.

Playing Devil's Advocate here:

I'm sure Padfield is well aware of the rules considering he is a big time QC. He's probably more aware of the rules than any of the others.

Perhaps he has openly talked to the press in order to demonstrate that his consortium are VERY much interested in the purchase of Aston Villa.

Some might see Lerner's silence, and his 'just opportunities' quotes, as very worrying.

Also, if reports are to be believed, Lerner will have a very 'hands off' approach to running the club, and will employ other people to take manage the club on a day-to-day basis.

Apparently, Padfield's consortium also has similar ideas of ensuring ' the right people' are brought in to run the business.

I suppose it could also be said that owning an American football team, is very different to owning an English Premier League club.

How transferable is his knowledge, I wonder.

(As it happens, I also want Lerner, but I think trying to dismiss all other interested parties without knowing the full details of their bids, is highly dangerous. And could also ultimately end in real heartbreak).

Dowie can't hide his delight at joining Charlton

Trim gets greated by the Wolverhampton locals

Looking at a single days usage, ChrisVillan wonders how many he'll need for the next five months.

If you're looking at raw stats then the worst ever points total will lead you to conclude it's the worst ever season.

However, considering there isn't much in the points tally then, as ED said, the derby games are deciding factors because the two seasons have been very similar.

We were humiliated under Taylor as well - Bolton (who were shit at the time), Sunderland (the worst ever Prem team up until this season), Blues x 2, Blackburn in the cup.....

However, IMO, this season has been better because:

We've seen flashes of decent football (Taylor never even tried to promote attacking football).

We've seen the emergance of Cahill, Moore, Davis and Co.

We've had the pleasure of seeing genuine quality in Milner and Baros.

And, I'm sorry if it offends, but we beat our nearest rivals twice and will finish above them (compared to being absolutely humiliated twice and finishing below). Not the be all and end all but a deciding factor.

And again, if anyone thinks that beating Blues is the be all and end all, you've got the chairman and manager you deserve.

Good job no-one has suggested that then.

Contributing factor to this season being better? Yes.

Be all and end all? Nope.

wtf is this obsession with beating a small team down the road? it doesnt make a good season, its no guide at all. I'd rather finish 8th anf lose both games to sha. yes its nice to beat them but thats all, nice

You're right - it doesn't make for a good season.

It just contributes to this season being better than 02/03.

But why? statistically it isnt? so how can it be better?

I was looking at it from all angles - not just statistically.

Statistically Phillips has been better than Angel this season. Was that argument accepted? Nope.

wtf is this obsession with beating a small team down the road? it doesnt make a good season, its no guide at all. I'd rather finish 8th anf lose both games to sha. yes its nice to beat them but thats all, nice

You're right - it doesn't make for a good season.

It just contributes to this season being better than 02/03.

Bad season.

Although GTMKII's season was worse. I can see some positives from this season - I don't remember many from 02/03.

After fourteen hours of desperately pressing the refresh button - CV reveals the consequence of his efforts

And then finally decides he can't take anymore

Meanwhile, with no access to VillaTalk, Richard finds somewhere else to argue.

Graham Taylor is on there :shock:

01:47 minutes in; wearing the lifejacket.

Darius Vassell - 02:03 minutes in. :shock:

Edit: Maradonna- 00:08 seconds in.

Barry. Can we have sum people who vote Milner come out and justify it please.

I haven't voted, because the story is clearly nonsense, but I suppose those who said Milner have done so because of the amount of assists he has for us this season.

As if their fat boy chairman is going to buy anyone without the new manager having a say.

He got it SO BADLY wrong with Souness, you can be certain his next appointment is going to be a good one; and with the money they can spuff on players, who is going to want Barry!?

The direction of another Villa Talk thread is set

It has been demonstarted what a loss at home to Pompey would have done to VT computers

VTers over analysis of DOL's comments are taken to new and extreme measures

A Villa fan reflects on another exciting Premier League season

The title of Jack Woodwanker's autobiography is revealed

Lee Hendrie is pictured carrying out his community service and people are astonished to find out he isn't actually wearing any clothes.

Drat gets bored with Richard and finds something harder to wind up.

Pablo Picasso fails to heed warnings that his broken toes could cause further problems.

After seeing the pitch, Villafan306 wishes he had never enquired about playing for Trim's team.

Doug Ellis' new recruit announces the club's 'strong financial position'

If/when we get taken over, then I wouldn't be averse to him going then.

That's only because I want there to be a fresh start at Villa. I want the fans to be completely unified again and not divided over any lines whatsoever.

Ideally, after say 3-4 years, I'd like there to be not one trace of the current Villa remaining - and that includes everyone from the backroom staff to the first team. There have been too many occassions where each and every one of the current squad have let us down in one way or another.

I've heard that Neville is no more a Villa fan than I am a Blues fan.

And that's not at all before the smart arses start

Tell us more.....

One of his claims is that he's such a big fan he actually knows some of the ex players. One of those who was apparently a good friend of his was Charlie Aitken. When Aitken was asked about Neville he didn't have a clue who he was.

That's what I've heard anyway. Ianrobo or someone may be able to tell us otherwise.

I've heard that Neville is no more a Villa fan than I am a Blues fan.

And that's not at all before the smart arses start

But if there is a fixed price agreed between vendor and purchaser, that surely has no earing on the other share price?

The take-over is not a certainty though Ali so there will still be fluctuations in the price.

If there is an annoucement that it will not be going ahead then it would have a negative affect on the price, more people will sell, and it could spark a downward momentum.

Could it be the usual fluctuation in prices?

In one word - yes.