cyrusr

Oh and not sure if this has been posted yet but I think that's our board...

13 minutes ago, useless said:

Good player and a good signing for any Championship club. As far as I'm aware, despite his reptuation he hasn't been in trouble for a while now, just needs to find himself a good home perhaps. I doubt he's going to sha, there will be bigger and better clubs willing to take a chance on him.

This. Given the financial issues still at SHA I would be a little surprised if he went there despite the previous connections a couple of seasons ago (remember a lot has changed for them as well so probably not the some bunch of people). Given his previous potential, it would likely be a lower half premier league team or top championship side would take the punt on him. Not sure if he is a Tony Pulis sort of player so I would put the money on us signing him if he is indeed in Birmingham for a medical today. 

BBC running article that it's compeleted. Says Xia Chairman, Samuelson vice chairman and Wyness CEO. Click here

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Chinese businessman Dr Tony Xia has completed his £76m takeover of Championship club Aston Villa.

The 39-year-old has passed the Premier League and Football League's fit and proper person test and will become the new chairman of the West Midlands side.

Dr Xia succeeds American Randy Lerner, who bought Villa for £62.6m in 2006.

Villa were relegated from the Premier League for the first time last season, finishing bottom, and have since named Italian Roberto di Matteo as manager.

Dr Xia spent six years at Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including five months at Oxford University, before returning to China.

He made his fortune as the owner of Recon Group, a holding company that has the controlling interest in five publicly listed companies on the Hong Kong and Chinese stock exchanges, employing 35,000 people in 75 countries.

His takeover comprises a £52m purchase price and a £24m overdraft. In addition, he will contribute £60m in operating costs.

Dr Xia met the Football League's Shaun Harvey in London on Monday for formal confirmation he had passed the owners' and directors' test, after the Premier League had been satisfied in its investigations. 

The new Villa vice-chairman is Chris Samuelson, an international financier who has been involved in a failed proposed takeover at fellow Championship club Reading and also an attempted financial injection into Premier League Everton more than a decade ago.

The new chief executive is Keith Wyness, who filled the same role at Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen, then Everton.

Samuelson was instrumental in getting Dr Xia interested in the Villa project and introduced the new owner to Wyness.

Dr Xia is expected to inject about £30m into the transfer fund available to former Chelsea boss Di Matteo as he rebuilds a first-team squad that won only three league games last season.

Just now, villa4europe said:

he was...

spunked it up the wall with off the field activities i think, he'll fit right in

This. Remember he was full of potential but then went off the boil. Think ego let him down (and a few legal issues...). Went to Lazio where he has made 3 appearances. Think he wants/needs an out and no Premier League team would touch him. Definitely had the skill though  if I remember. Ex Man Utd youngster too.

Jamie Banfield now appointed director of Recon Sports on Companies House

Tony's done it again and spilt the beans on Weibo:

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2016.6.13.London,11:30，正式完成Football League的proper test！ 完成收购维拉正式手续！ 开始一段未知但值得挑战的旅程！

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2016.6.13.London, 11: 30, the formal completion of the Football League proper test! Villa completed the acquisition formalities! The beginning of a journey unknown but worth the challenge!  [ Photos Total 4 ]

Tony's Weibo account active Again:

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洛杉矶，每天若干场会晤美国POP文化最具代表性的一众文化娱乐公司。悲喜交加五味杂陈。喜的是世界已然默认中国力量，和十几年前大相径庭；悲的是类似某美国投行炫耀他们最近将业类都认为价值不高的一好莱坞公司天价卖给中国一大佬，这起交易已成了他投行“皮条”生涯的“传奇”，而类似的事似乎还在继续上演。

Which translated via Google means:

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Los Angeles , several field day meeting with US POP culture most representative of a minority culture and entertainment company . Bittersweet weird smells . The joy is in the world already default Chinese forces , and more than a dozen years ago, very different ; grief is similar to a US investment bank industry will show off their latest class value is not considered a high price to sell China a Hollywood company chiefs, the deal has been became his investment bank , " Browne " career "legend" , and similar things seems to still continue to be staged .

Bittersweet weird smells???! Ah well it's got a load of photos of Hollywood studios which backs up him being in America atm. Hopefully means will be in England tomorrow!

5 minutes ago, av1 said:

As i said a couple of posts back, i hope that released list gets a lot bloody bigger over the next few weeks. 

I know what you mean but technically the release list will not get bigger as this is the end of contract list. 

Players contracts can still be terminated sold etc. So more players can/will go but at least it's a damn good start! That's at least £80k off the wage bill already and 2 players that epitomised what has been wrong with this club.

The Full Premier League Release List to Mull Over....

And if anyone suggests N'Zogbia even as a joke they deserve being fired of of cannon...

Sidwell however.... 

Gone, gone, gone!!! 

Official premier league list

I have put the full list in the N'Zogbia page but thinks it's important to say cheerio! 

The full official Premier League list

Its official!!!  

The full official squad list:

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Aston Villa

Contract Players
Abdo, Khalid (Offer)
Abdoul, Johan
Agbonlahor, Gabriel
Amavi, Jordan Kevin
Ayew, Jordan
Bacuna, Leandro Jones Johan
Baker, Nathan Luke
Bennett, Joseph
Blackett-Taylor, Corey
Borg, Oscar Francis
Bunn, Mark John
Calder, Riccardo (Extended)
Cissokho, Aly
Clark, Ciaran
Cowans, Henry Gordon Mander (Extended)
Crespo Rincon, Jose Angel
Davis, Keinan Vincent Joseph
Gardner, Gary
Gestede, Rudy Philippe Michel Camille
Gil de Pareja Vicent, Carles
Grealish, Jack
Green, Andre
Gueye, Idrissa Gana
Guzan, Bradley Edwin
Hale, Rory Danny (Offer)
Hepburn-Murphy, Rushian
Hutton, Alan
Johansson, Viktor Tobias
Kozak, Libor
Leggett, Thomas Jacob (Extended)
Lescott, Joleon Patrick
Lyden, Jordan
Mason, Niall Aadya (Extended)
McKirdy, Harry
O'Hare, Callum
Okore, Tetchi Jores Charlemagne U
Omerovic, Anes
Richards, Micah
Robinson, Callum Jack (Offer)
Sanchez Moreno, Carlos Alberto
Sarkic, Matjia
Sellars, Jerell (Offer)
Sinclair, Scott Andrew
Steer, Jed John
Suliman, Easah
Sundman, Joonas Sebastian
Swift, Benjamin George (Offer)
Toner, Kevin Stephen (Extended)
Traore Diarra, Adama
Veretout, Jordan Marcel Gilbert
Watkins, Bradley
Westwood, Ashley Roy

Scholars    
Clark, Mitchell
Clarke, Jack Aidan
Coates, Jack Lewis
Cox, Jordan Raymond
Doyle Hayes, Jake Billy
Finnerty, James John
Hall, Louis Aiden
Humphries, Jake Raymond
Idem, Emmanuel Okokon
Knibbs, Harvey
Linley, Joseph
Mooney, Kelsey
Pastorek, Jozef
Prosser, Alexander

Released
Bannister, Charlie Brendan Alec
Donacien, Janoi
Kinsella, Lewis
Lyons-Foster, Kodi
N'Zogbia, Charles
Richardson, Kieran Edward
Siegrist, Benjamin Kevin
Webb, Joshua John

1 hour ago, JPAngel said:

Have we ever got good value for selling on any of our players since Lerner arrived? I feel like we pay high prices and get low sell on fees for everyone. Other than Downing and maybe Benteke we let our boys go for pennies!

Downing, Milner, Young, Benteke all had big fees (20-30 million I think). Barry and Delph went for comparative peanuts but yes the trend is that we let players wallow until they are worthless. 

I would imagine the release clause is a relegation one but if this is true without question he will go to Spurs and I don't really blame him. One of the players I do not hate so I do wish him the best if he does go. 

Aston Villa midfielder wants showdown talks with new boss

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Aston Villa midfielder wants showdown talks with new boss
11:01, 10 JUN 2016 UPDATED 11:01, 10 JUN 2016
BY GREGG EVANS
Jordan Veretout is attracting interest from abroad but he's yet to rule out a prolonged stay

Jordan Veretout will seek assurances from new boss Roberto Di Matteo before deciding whether to stay at Aston Villa .

The 23-year-old is wanted by a number of clubs on the continent and also has options in France as he mulls over his future.

Veretout was cast aside towards the back end of last season and departed for his summer break feeling unwanted and downbeat.

Relegation to the Championship topped off a disappointing debut season in England and he’s only likely to stick around next term if Di Matteo makes him part of his plans.

The former FC Nantes midfielder was signed for £10m last summer but failed to live up to his price tag.

He didn’t score a single goal in 29 appearances, and like many of his team-mates he struggled to make an impact as Villa finished rock-bottom of the Premier League and were subsequently relegated.

Frenchman Remi Garde used him more often than Tim Sherwood and Eric Black, the men who took control of Villa either side of his disastrous four-month spell.

But since Garde’s departure, Veretout hasn’t played a single minute of first-team football. leaving his long-term future up in the air.

Although other clubs in England have shown an interest, Veretout is unlikely to stick around on these shores if he decides on a move away from Villa.

Discussions with Di Matteo are yet to take place and are expected later in the month.

The former France U21 man has four years left remaining on his contract.

Didn't realise he played no football since Garde left. I suppose with a lot of the "potential" players signed last summer, they will want assurances of first team football. Still think he would be a good shout as a first team player given the number of games next season and the need for more rotation but if he doesn't want to stay let him go. 

Not sure if has been mentioned or not but Birmingham Mail linking us to Boaz Myhill. The usual "RDM signed him before therefore link made" but what are peoples thoughts? 

Recalling he has looked decent in the past but just realised he is 33 years old now. I know he is a goalkeeper so not so bad but I wouldn't think it would fit for the future. I however reckon he could do a job certainly in Championship and would help in the immediate set. Could be tempted for first team football now Foster back from injury and returning back to his youth team. 

People are reading way too much into that picture. If he had changed the profile picture from one kissing the badge you might get my attention but pure conjecture.

He has potential and could probably do exceptionally well playing in the championship next season. I do not think a "top" club would take the gamble on him and if he gets a whiff of Villa splurging the cash and looking to get back on top over next few years he might be happy to stick it out. I do sincerely hope being round the England kids has helped put his head back in the game.

However, if he wants the cash and Stoke/West Brom/West Ham/whoever wants to give it to him I would happily let him go. Only the players that want to be here 100% deserve to be here and if he can't give that let him go, I have not got time for praying about trying to keep someone that doesn't want to. Same applies to every player and I am sure that will be what RDM will be saying to them all soon if not already. 

9 hours ago, It's Your Round said:

I saw this too cyrusr, I then went on to read the comments under the article. There's some pretty ecstatic inbreds that are proper excited about this. One of the Mongols even suggested building a statue of their new investor 

So was checking the Birmingham Mail website to see if there was anything new on Villa takeover and happened upon this Birmingham City Takeover... A little surprised not mentioned yet but it is largely irrelevant. However the article raises a couple of funny things:

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We have known for several months now the Carson Yeung era at Birmingham City is almost at an end.

Today’s announcement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange merely re-confirms the fact that peace has broken out with Carson, his de facto brother-in-law Wang Lei and former director Peter Pannu.

What the 61-page tome does for the first time though, is give Birmingham City fans more information about the future.

Then there is some boring stuff but then goes into timetable:

Quote

Laid out tentatively - but clearly. Obviously things take as long as they take and the timescale is contingent on everything going to plan.

But as things stand we are looking at:

‘Expected date of the EGM: 11:00 a.m. on Friday, 22 July 2016.

‘Expected effective date of the Capital Reorganisation: Monday, 12 September 2016.

‘Order granted by the High Court to discharge the Receivership Order and the release of the Receivers in respect of the receivership: Tuesday, 25 October 2016

‘Resumption and dealing in the New Shares commence: 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, 27 October 2016.’

Which means it should all be done by the end of October - just in time for the January transfer window. 

So sale announced today, likely takeover completion end of October, meaning 5 months...! And people were worried about the speed our one was taking! 

Oh but it gets better. They then talk about finances and their transfer budget:

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AND they will invest around ‘HK$120 million will be used to, when considered appropriate, acquire additional talented players who are expected to make contribution to and help enhance the competitiveness of the team significantly so as to assist the team to reach the goal of being promoted to the Premier League in the future’.

That’s just under £10.6m on today’s exchange rate but it’s important to understand that’s not just £10m to splash out on fees, that’s wages, fees, everything.

But don't worry, they are will be challenging to get back to the Premier League...

4 minutes ago, briny_ear said:

There are 2 cases: one vs Chelsea for constructive dismissal and one vs Mourinho for victimisation and discrimination.

She may be occupied for some time on all this.

And we should all have some fun seeing the whole affair dragged out in public for months & months.

It's on BBC that tribunal is starting this week with evidence potentially starting tomorrow. Therefore I would anticipate this being concluded this week. The only thing that would likely delay it would be if they need to consider their decision and give reasons. However I do expect there to be some dragging of Chelsea and Mourinho through the mud...

5 minutes ago, PieFacE said:

 

Could this mean Wyness has been approved by the PL/FL?

Was just going to put this on here! 

None of them are Directors of AVFC so can't be sure whether they have been approved by PL/FL; however it does confirm his involvement with the takeover and the future. 

2 minutes ago, hippo said:

Has he worked with any of these guys before ? 

Just asking as the black mark against Pearson was that he couldn't bring his trusted backroom staff. No disrespect to those announced today - but this is new team to RDM..

He worked with the goalkeeping coach at Schalke I believe. Did he play with Clarke at Chelsea? Not sure about Bond or the Sheikh of fitness though. 

7 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

This backroom team has quite good pedigree doesn't it? encouraging!

It is very promising reading isn't it? 

Clearly the end of Black, Parks and Duverne. All direct replacements plus an additional coach with Bond. Wonder if he is keeping Cowans on board for the U21's or not? 

On 04/06/2016 at 15:56, villanwesty88 said:

So you're saying someone like Lorna or Jack Woodward held the club back in a sense? Please.They worked tirelessly for Villa and added a lot of value - AVTV bought income and generated exposure. Lorna is very talented speaking 3 or 4 languages and helped with players, managers and making sure the engine ran. Clubs that are at the top have these kinds of people employed so they do add value. It is just very sad that they lose out thanks to other people.  

5 hours ago, Zatman said:

Tom Fox the man of the truth, the integration thing for me is mainly a dressing room issue 1st and foremost. club captain and senior players should be trying to make the players feel welcome and if honest from outside that didnt happen at all. the liaison officer is only for needs at home.

Jack Woodward - AVTV hasn't impressed me at all. I'm a season ticket holder so I get it for free and I still don't watch it! I am not sure how much revenue it brings in but the potential to make it more is there. The impression I got from people's opinions is that Jack is holding it back and that it needs a refresh. Perhaps he wanted to move on anyway but it seems to be that they want to get rid of high wage earners and he will (likely) be one I would have thought. 

Lorna McClelland - agree with Zatman. Whilst I think she helped out with matchdays and the families; really what came across from the pitch is that the players were not integrating in the team and really that's down to the captain and the other players bringing them into the fold. It may be a case that Lorna has taken the blame and given the boot but it does seem she really knows her stuff and was the real leader in Player Liaison. If that is the reason then does make me sad; however I do not know, but my feeling is that she wants to do something else and would have left regardless. Probably though we will never really know. 

1 hour ago, Rob182 said:

I quite liked it when Tony Parks was shouting at the players from the touchline. It showed, for me, that he cared, and was willing to speak up when players were slacking.

Maybe he's not the best goalkeeping coach, but I reckon it was more a case of 'how much better can he make Guzan and Bunn'.

Oh well, hopefully RDM will bring in some quality coaches.

Tony Parks - yeah good that he actually cared but I am not sure when he got here but the quality of goalkeeping has got worse over the last year or 2; Guzan obviously the example but he has been horrific when before he was really solid. The only info on Wikipedia(!) is that he was at Spurs from November 2008. That was the season that the signed Gomes and he was not good for them I seem to remember. They did struggle for a while with goalkeeping too; maybe Parks was part of that problem? It probably for the best though that fresh start with new manager will happen though!