BkkVilla

I've just seen this on The Telegraph site http://goo.gl/ZRpEYZ Potential bidders for Aston Villa believe that Randy Lerner may now be willing to sell for just £100 million - half of what was thought to be the original asking price when he put the Premier League club up for sale in May and only around a third of what he has spent. Lerner had hoped to recoup £200 million for Villa but, despite tentative discussions with interested parties and the American businessman issuing another statement in July claiming the sale process had been "productive", no buyer has been found by Bank of America, which is handling the sale. The official asking price is now thought to be £150 million, and a so-called 'indicative' price is said to be £125 million. But bidders believe Lerner would be prepared to sell for as little as £100 million and understand he has to cut his losses. Given that Lerner paid £62.7 million to acquire Villa eight years ago and it was estimated that by 2010 he had pumped £206 million into the club - by now the figure is believed to be around £250 million - he will be losing a lot of money on the deal. Reform Acquisitions Limited, Lerner's holding company which owns Villa and a number of related businesses, has recorded losses of £217.7 million with last season's accounts to come. The latter are expected to show the club is now self-sufficient and, as it said in its last accounts, "closed the chapter of heavy spending". Lerner has been an extremely generous benefactor and has respected the club's traditions, although he has acknowledged he has had his fingers burnt financially. "Fates are fickle in the business of English football," he said in his statement confirming Villa were for sale. "And I feel I have pushed mine well past the limit." On the surface the deal to buy Villa looks like a good one given it is an established Premier League club with some global cache, even if it is not in London, which tends to attract far more interest as a location. Villa Park has been upgraded and has a healthy 42,700 capacity, plus a large tract of land also owned by the club. The training ground, Bodymoor Heath, is impressive and there is other property. The club's huge wage bill has been slashed and although the value of the playing staff is not high there are valuable members of it such as Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph. Manager Paul Lambert has signed a new long-term deal and a new, highly-rated chief executive, Tom Fox, is in place. Villa have also made an encouraging start to the season although the priority is to remain in the top flight. It is believed that Lerner is prepared to make more funds available in the January window after doing so in the summer in the hope of avoiding another relegation battle. He knows his chances of eventually finding a buyer, whatever the price, would decrease further if Villa are not in the Premier League.

Comfortable mid table.

Agbonlahor even looks lazy in a photo. lol!

I'm going to start a.......... grow a Roy Keane Beard Challenge.

This is it exactly. Great start, no doubt, but let's not get carried away because a couple of losses playing the exact same way people are lauding right now will turn into Lambert out abuse because we aren't making enough chances. I'd like us to be measured here. We can see the improvement and we all want it to continue. Just like this start doesn't mean we're awesome, losing a few on the trot won't make us awful. We are what we are and that's one of the better teams in the group of "the rest", capable of a finish anywhere between 15th and 9th. Just like we were before a ball was kicked this season Feck sake! Lighten up please. We know we aren't going to finish where we are. So enjoy the party while you can.

I have nothing to say. I just wanted to post in the Title Chase thread. Oh it feels good!

Great performance from Baker today.

To be honest that's all I've ever thought of him.

Not the best performance. But we are defiantly looking more solid at the back. Just hope Cissokho's injury isn't too bad. When Sanchez is up too speed, and Benteke is back. We can maybe push up a bit more.

_____________________Guzan___________________ __Hutton___Senderos__________Vlaar____Cissokho__ ___________________Sanchez___________________ _________Westy________________Delph__________ __N'Zogbia_________________________Richardson__ ___________________Weimann___________________

Exactly what I had in mind.

From a defensive point of view; Hutton, Okore, Vlaar, Cisshoko, with Sanchez in front of them, is a lot more physical and solid [with pace it must be said] than the likes of Clark, Baker, Luna, Lowton or Bennet. The player we should have signed two years ago, but that is neither here nor there now I suppose. Indeed Hutton Vlaar Okore Cisshoko Delph Sanchez Westwood N'Zogbia Benteke Agbonlahor ALMOST looks like a half decent side! Swap Richardson for Agbonlahor

It's not his fault he's had to do four jobs in one. If he was allowed to concentrate on his own game and not keep covering from the constant mistakes of others. I think you would see a solid consistent display week in, week out.

It's 8:15am where I am.

With Senderos signing it will mean one less job for Vlaar to do. He currently has his own job, he looks after the left centre-back, and also looks after the right back. Sign a decent right back and he can concentrate on his own job.

Seriously? Delaney was a quality defender.

Why was he let go? I hope you stick one up Villa Mark. You deserve much better than this shower of shit that is called a football club. All the best.

I for one would like to see Bent given another chance. But the only way to do that is to supply him. But we have already extinguished that by letting go of Albrighton. Bizarre!!!!

Or a learner driver?

Try this http://www.weebly.com/ its so easy to build a site with.

I agree

So you don't want anybody Putin loads of money into Villa? Sorry

When need to go in studs first for a few challenges so they might back off thinking about Wembley.

Apparently the F.A changed the rules.

Guzan Bacuna Vlaar Baker Bertrand Westwood El-Ahmadi Delph Weimann Benteke Albrighton