markavfc40

You might also see a pig fly past the window as well.

Pat Murphy on Five Live this morning said today's a crunch day, with Lerner back in but not wanting a repeat of his last experience, also that there was no way he would give Ellis an executive position if he buys the club. Good on yer Randy. And so another day of rumour and hoping and praying begins. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take.

Lerner back in game but frustrated by slow progress Stuart James Wednesday August 2, 2006 The Guardian The possibility of Martin O'Neill being installed as Aston Villa manager while Doug Ellis remains as chairman was last night dismissed as "completely off-the-wall" by a source close to Randy Lerner. It is understood that the US billionaire has revived his interest in buying the club after negotiations with Ellis broke down last week at Villa Park, and the owner of the Cleveland Browns American Football team continues to believe that he holds the key to O'Neill's appointment. O'Neill is understood to be surprised by reports in the local press indicating he is ready to be introduced as the manager. It was suggested that the Irishman would be confirmed as David O'Leary's successor yesterday or today. Within Lerner's group there is also a sense of disbelief given the lack of progress over talks. "The idea of O'Neill joining camp with Ellis in charge is completely off the wall," said a source. Villa responded to yesterday's stories linking O'Neill with the post by insisting that no appointment was imminent. "Contrary to rumours circulating there is no announcement planned concerning the appointment of a new manager," said Steve Stride, the operations director. "The situation remains ongoing and we will inform fans as and when it is possible. But speculation concerning an announcement is extremely premature." It is apparent that O'Neill has been offered the Villa position, although it is believed he will require unequivocal assurances about any takeover before deciding to commit. O'Neill is not prone to making rash decisions and his circumspection over the uncertainty surrounding the club's ownership is understandable. The picture would become a lot clearer should Lerner's second attempt to gain control be successful. There remains the possibility of a deal being resurrected, although under vastly different terms to before. This time, unlike last Wednesday, there will be no face-to-face meeting. Instead Lerner would leave any transaction in the hands of the two banks involved. The American was left bemused by his earlier meeting with Ellis, when he arrived with the intention of making an offer subject to due diligence, and would not countenance the possibility of enduring another frustrating experience. None of the other parties interested, including the consortiums headed by Athole Still, Michael Neville and Nicholas Padfield QC, have dropped out of the running but it has become increasingly clear that Lerner offers the surest route to progress and O'Neill's arrival.

There is no way in a million years I can see MON coming to Villa if he knows Ellis is going to stay in charge. I've always believed if MON is announced manager before a takeover it will also signal the end of the Ellis era. If MON becomes manager and Ellis rejects all offers for the club I will parade around outside Villa park in only me missus's thongs before the Reading game.

They had Bill Howell on and he said it is 100% guaranted that O'Neil will be next Villa manager. The guys presenting talksport couldn't believe it. They've had Arsenal, Leicester and Celtic fans on saying what a massive club Villa are and what a great manager MON is and that it wouldn't be beyond the realms to see Villa challenging the top 4 in a couple of years. Nice I thought coming from fans of other clubs.

I hope youv'e taken the short straw by the name of Ellis out of there Jez.

You forgot about the possibility of bid 7

I can appreciate what your saying about Neville but I won't feel sorry for him. At the end of the day if he has the best bid he'll win if he hasn't he won't. He may have been quite shocked by how many potential bidders have come out the woodwork but that is to the benefit of the club IMO.

Mr trees you have been like a breath of fresh air on here the last couple of weeks. Its like we've all chipped in and got ourselves a private investigator.

I can't believe how all of a sudden Howell knows everything thats happening at Villa. 2 weeks ago the majority of Villa fans had him down as knowing **** all. Whats changed? He read this message board. :winkold: You might be right. I hope Howell is spot on with what hes saying but my opinion of him hasn't changed just because I like what hes saying at the moment. FFS it was only 10 days ago we was all e mailing the Evening Mail screaming about what a clown he was.

I can't believe how all of a sudden Howell knows everything thats happening at Villa. 2 weeks ago the majority of Villa fans had him down as knowing **** all. Whats changed?

Any potential bidder would have to go through Rothchilds first I would imagine. At the end of the day Doug has a legal duty to investigate all potential proposals. If it is therefore a new bidder Doug can't just tell them to feck off.

If Lerner does make the effort to fly back into this country in the next couple of days it will be to sign the deal. Theres no way he would come all the way back over just to **** about with Ellis again.

It didn't say they were meeting it said they would be re opening dialouge. I would be surprised if Lerner flew over to Engalnd again this week unless it was a done deal of course.

Lerner would not bother coming back to the table if he thought he was going to be **** about by Ellis again. I would think he has already been given assurances that this won't be the case.

If has been previously rumoured Lerner was 15 minutes away from sealing the deal previously then I'd imagine tomorrows talks could be very short indeed.

If a takeover is going to happen sometime soon then it needs to happen before a new manger is put in place. I honestly think, if has been suggested in some quarters Neville is still out there with new backers he needs to step in now. This is the perfect time to put a bid on the table for the club as Doug is at the most vulnerable he has ever been. The fact Ellis couldn't be asked to get on a plane from Majorca to personally be involved in this whole saga speaks volumes about his willingness to get out now.

Definitely not. This was as big a shock to Neville as everyone else Caught everyone on the hop hasn't it True, but in the main scheme of things it doesnt make a great deal of difference. A bid was in the offing anyway. Mike how much do you know about this supposed bid thats in the offing.

IMO this thread isn't even relevant although I can understand Vilafan306 posting it. There is no way that we will be relegated and IMO will finish at least 10 points above the drop zone. Had we have won yesterday (which based on the 2nd half we deserved to) this thread would not even be on here. What fine lines peoples opinions are based on. We've under achieved this season but there is no way we are one of the 3 worst teams in the prem.

Is the above story on the front page of the Mail?

This is not based on any facts but just a feeling I have that this coming week will either see the Comers put up or shut up. This has gone on for too long now and regardless of whose fault it is the Comers either need to show the colour of their money or go away.

The Sun Online says it as an exclusive in tomorrows paper. The headline being "VILLA BID FOR BAROS all it says online is this ASTON VILLA boss David O’Leary was last night closing in on Milan Baros. He has been tracking Liverpool’s Czech striker, 23, for a year. The full story it says will be in tomorrows paper.

That really doesn't mean much does it. Alan Shearer and Andy Johnson are just 2 others that played for teams that finished below us but i'm sure no one would complain if we signed them.