GarethRobinson

Or do you think Mr Neville were refering to Ricardo Villa?

hahahahha

Seems as though Rothchilds have earnt there cash with this double quick response!!!

TBH Gareth, even the most optimistic amongst us feel the deal as it was is dead, because of many reasons but be in doubt the club is for sale.

Yeah - I think he has shown his hand in as much as the club is defo for sale - it is, but just overpriced.

The timing of this article is everything though - it suggests to me that perhaps the chapter has closed on the Comers interest and we are now exploring new avenues.

1. Is the Comer deal dead and buried? If so, why?

2. Are Villa any closer to finding another buyer? If so, who?

3. Does Doug really want to sell the club? If not, what's the plan for the future?

......Question 1 is a leading question.....questions 2 & 3 seem to hint at the fact they know that the Comers have walked away.

There is no - "when will the deal be completed?"

There is "Are Villa closer to finding another buyer?"

I think they have infomation that the Comers have done an about turn.

in fact after the Mail's spurt a couple of weeks ago it seems to be the unmentionable subject.

This is the one aspect that has really baffled me. A couple of weeks ago the Mail took the lofty position of demanding answers from the club - as at the very least, the fans deserved it

No answers have been forthcoming and yet the Mail see no need in demanding answers anymore - I suppose they think we are not as deserving anymore?!

this whole saga has been strange, from day one - and it would seem that nothing is now happening

we are still not even mid-table.................

people who say now is not the right time do not accept that there will ever be a right time.

........how is that different to you saying;

Out as soon as is practical

If it is not practical to sack him now then you must surely be saying that 'now is not the right time' :shock:

its like groundhog day!

SFF - I don't think its a case of Villa not being able 'win as usual'

This announcement is shrouded in mystery, goes against what has been reported previously (due dilligence) and is fresh on the back of a Birmingham Mail requesting, on the front page, that the club come clean.

It poses almost as many questions as it does answers.

Infact - the only answer it gives is that we are, seemingly, up for sale.

Agreed Ahamaad - this will ensure that the season is now a total wash-out.

It would seem that football has taken a back seat since October 31st

so - and sorry to be so slow!

Its:

1.They made an offer

2.It would have been approved to the board/shareholders

3.They (villa) havent yet seen the colour of their money

4.Unsure that due dilligence has been actioned/completed

If so then this is surely put up or shut up from Villa, no?

To me, if the above is a correct take on the situation, then the bid, if ever officially made, would have been accepted.................?

Thats a pretty cynical take on the situation JC!

They give a timeline with regards to the whole sorry saga and base the story on the fact they have been covering it for so long - I think, as a paper should, it is reflecting the mood of the people, but its not out of nowhere.

I was really pleased to see it on the front page

Re: the Mail article - it should also be stated that it is an editorial type piece placed on the front page of the paper.

A very welcome intervention.

This is getting very very tedious

turn it all around, Gareth - i.e. Can you seriously see Aston Villa without Ellis...etc.

Maybe, that's the mindset he's in?

he's 82 and suffering from the passages of time and ill-health

Maybe that's how he looks at it? And the rest follows....

I so hope you are right!

Basically he's in the end game, isn't he. He has some control over matters, but not the power of control he used to have. We all know this.

I am not too sure how true this is to be honest.

Can you seriously see Ellis without Aston Villa, and with that I mean being the chief, the head guy, the Don of Aston Villa?

The change in status alone would kill him.

I shouldn't bet against him clinging on for as long as he can - and it isn't really clinging as his power, or exertion of power, hasn't really diminshed at all. The last time I looked he was still the chairman, largest single shareholder and dominant force.

He will want it to be that way for as long as possible.

That, I would wager, is worth more to him than any kind of money

Loans still incur a cost to the club - and as we are struggling to find the cash to extend Bakkes loan I shouldn't think we will see any of these happening in Jan either.

Ian - if they set up AVIL then you would have to assume that Ellis has played ball.

If, having set up that vehicle to buy the club, Ellis started messing around then I am sure they will have said something. As I understand it they have missed deadlines set by Ellis, not the other way around.

Like I say - the truth will come out in the end, at the moment I am not sure who you can point a finger at.

Although history would tell you Ellis I guess

Ianrobo.

There has been a distinct lack of quotes from the Comers too.

Im not sure its as easy as blaming Ellis on this one, not just yet - I am sure the truth will come out but if the Comers really wanted to buy Villa and Ellis was messing them around - I think they would have cried foul by now.

Alex7783 - I think you may have hit the nail on the head for me.

It does seem, as time goes on, that there interests are not related to the football club in the slightest.

First quotes on this from those who know them in Ireland were that they were suprised the Comers were getting involved with a football club as they harboured no interest in the game, let alone Aston Villa, in any shape or form.

Ellis has his faults - they are often highlighted - but I genuinely think that he wants the club to go to the right people.

These dont seem like the right people to me

Could the latest announcement from AVIL be official confirmation to Ellis that things are still moving along.

I believe that they are working to a deadline that Ellis has imposed (obviously 31st December 2005) and with the sudden "it will be done before new year" statement last week it would seem that they are attempting to play ball.

Could this statement have been made as something of an assurance to Ellis that the takeover will now take place in 2006, at least 1 day after the deadline set by Ellis?

in the Brum Mail 'Neville' does mention the fact that there is a 'deadline' - although doesn't offer when this might be.

Oh man - this is great news.

Lets hope that this is indeed the new dawn we have all been hoping to wake up to for soooo long!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

hahahahahahahahahhaa

the value lies with the live gigs I reckon

...........and you hardly ever walk away with the horrible sinking feeling, which often happens when I watch the Villa!!!

...............then again, depending on which bands you go and see..........!!