$200 Million Takeover

[Woody1000]

- at the takeover he did say if he couldn't take Villa forward he would go. He has done that and not hung around. Respect for that

He did hang around, hence our last 3 seasons being our 3 worst ever prem years.

I can't speak for him, but I imagine that Randy thought that once the wage-bill was sorted, then we could have another go.

He has probably seen the last 2 years as having to spend £25m per season to stand still, and finally realised that he does not have the finances to fire us back up the table.

[Big_John_10]

- at the takeover he did say if he couldn't take Villa forward he would go. He has done that and not hung around. Respect for that

He did hang around, hence our last 3 seasons being our 3 worst ever prem years.

I can't speak for him, but I imagine that Randy thought that once the wage-bill was sorted, then we could have another go.

He has probably seen the last 2 years as having to spend £25m per season to stand still, and finally realised that he does not have the finances to fire us back up the table.

I can't agree at all. I think the last two seasons have all been about setting us up for a sale.

[Stevo985]

 

 

 

 

- at the takeover he did say if he couldn't take Villa forward he would go. He has done that and not hung around. Respect for that

He did hang around, hence our last 3 seasons being our 3 worst ever prem years.

Yeah why didn't he try and sell us 2-3 years ago? You know, during the worldwide recession?

"hmmm, this might get a bit tough... SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL"

No let's hire McLeish and cut costs drastically. That will give it a go.

 

The point is, people don't bail out at the first sign of trouble.

 

I'm not saying Lerner has done everything right. Nobody thinks that. Appointing McLeish was the most barmy decision I've ever seen made at the club.

 

But if you seriously expect an owner to sell up, during a recession, at the very first sign of trouble then you're living in a fantasy land.

He gave it a go, failed, and sorted the finances out in preparation to sell. What more do you want from the man?

[Stevo985]

 

 

 

- at the takeover he did say if he couldn't take Villa forward he would go. He has done that and not hung around. Respect for that

He did hang around, hence our last 3 seasons being our 3 worst ever prem years.

I can't speak for him, but I imagine that Randy thought that once the wage-bill was sorted, then we could have another go.

He has probably seen the last 2 years as having to spend £25m per season to stand still, and finally realised that he does not have the finances to fire us back up the table.

I can't agree at all. I think the last two seasons have all been about setting us up for a sale.

 

What would you rather he did?

Kept us running with finances spiralling out of control meaning nobody would touch us?

[Stevo985]

Do people really expect Lerner to sack Lambert if he's selling?

[avfc1982am]

I'm not knocking anyone, but I find it strange how people can muster up such anger and hatred for Lerner and Faulkner. I'm not saying his whole time here has been a total joy, but we could have had a Carson Yeung.

Especially after Ellis, too.

I don't get it either.

Personally I think he hasn't been as bad as some people have made out. Although the last few years have been poor I believe he has always had the best interests of the club at heart.

When he landed he said if it didn't work he would step aside and true to his word he is.

He has imo tried to maintain the great traditions of the club and redeveloped in certain areas. Also he ensured that the boys of 82 were recognised by the club for their great achievement, unlike the previous owner.

Ok it hasn't quite worked out on the pitch recently, but no one can say he didn't give it a go.

My only hope now is that he sells to someone equally as ambitious as he was when he first arrived.

He leaves with my blessing.

[Woody1000]

- at the takeover he did say if he couldn't take Villa forward he would go. He has done that and not hung around. Respect for that

He did hang around, hence our last 3 seasons being our 3 worst ever prem years.

I can't speak for him, but I imagine that Randy thought that once the wage-bill was sorted, then we could have another go.

He has probably seen the last 2 years as having to spend £25m per season to stand still, and finally realised that he does not have the finances to fire us back up the table.

I can't agree at all. I think the last two seasons have all been about setting us up for a sale.

But still spent nearly £40m in those 2 seasons.

Would your beloved Herbert have done the same?

[Kingfisher]

Scary times. I think Randy had the interests of the club at heart, I hope the new owner does too.

[Villain4Life]

Rather the devil you know and so on ..... but we'll see.

 

I hope VP will remain Villa Park and the name will remain Aston Villa Football Club ...

 

But maybe I'm just an old fart romantic and the only way forward is playing your football at Red Bull Arena Park with a team in some can-looking shirts called Red Bullers .... or similar. Replace Red Bull at your peril with another company name.

 

With FFP being implemented and the penalties we're seeing for the likes of Citeh and PSG (and Chelsea next season?), the uber rich Arab or Russian owner won't have the same impact as before.

 

Neither will UEFA like the Red Bull Bottlers £200 mill a year sponsorship deal.

 

UTV

Edited May 12, 2014 by Villain4Life

[packoman]

Bit strange for Krulak to make a statement too.

[Kingfisher]

Whatever happens we need this sorting ASAP. We have to spend money this summer.

[NeilS]

 

There is no hint in that statement from Lerner of a buyer in the pipeline - I really think you are clutching at straws if you can see one.

I think (and hope) a takeover will be concluded by the end of June. It is the waiting I do not like. 

 

Yes I think this as well, the waiting will be painful. The modern fan has access to much more information than back in my days as a young lad in the 80's. So reading through every little nugget of information is painful and makes everything seem like an eternity to happen. We can't help ourselves though, and no doubt I will be on here every ten minutes looking for an update.

 

Do people really expect Lerner to sack Lambert if he's selling?

I don't, he would have to be mad to sack Lambert now. Lambert will continue on until new owners come in. Lerner will let the new owners pay the compensation. 

[dazzyc]

Bit strange for Krulak to make a statement too.

didnt you know he is the link between the club and the fans! always approachable, will relay messages back to the board.....zzzzzzzz...........that worked well didnt it?

[KSV]

nothing has changed. ITK's on TBAR getting slammed. People need to understand these takeovers need time. The fact of the matter is that he IS selling the club so a takeover WILL be happening. So technically the ITK info was correct. Imminent it may not be but these things are not imminent. A takeover will take time and I have no doubt it will happen before next season is in place.

Randy to me sounds like he is saying his Goodbyes and Krulak coming out of the woodwork is just odd. His own goodbye? Who knows. Wouldn't be surprised if it is the Texans or PA still. No chance of Ellison (that's fan wishful thinking)

Lets see what plays out. Lambert won't be sacked as Randy gets along with him and doesn't want to pay him out. Will leave that to the new owner to do.

Thanks for trying Randy. You gave us some good years and freed us from Deadly Doug. You tried and ultimately failed. Gave us a great training ground etc along the way. MON era was awesome for a few years but it didn't go according to plan.

Time for a new era. Up the Villa!!

[Folski]

First ever Krulack statement without mentioning Nicky Keye?

[Mantis]

If we do get new owners I wonder how long it will take for a new manager to be put in place (if they decide against keeping Lambert)?

[Big_John_10]

- at the takeover he did say if he couldn't take Villa forward he would go. He has done that and not hung around. Respect for that

He did hang around, hence our last 3 seasons being our 3 worst ever prem years.

I can't speak for him, but I imagine that Randy thought that once the wage-bill was sorted, then we could have another go.

He has probably seen the last 2 years as having to spend £25m per season to stand still, and finally realised that he does not have the finances to fire us back up the table.

I can't agree at all. I think the last two seasons have all been about setting us up for a sale.

What would you rather he did?

Kept us running with finances spiralling out of control meaning nobody would touch us?

Why are the two extremes the only options?

[Big_John_10]

- at the takeover he did say if he couldn't take Villa forward he would go. He has done that and not hung around. Respect for that

He did hang around, hence our last 3 seasons being our 3 worst ever prem years.

I can't speak for him, but I imagine that Randy thought that once the wage-bill was sorted, then we could have another go.

He has probably seen the last 2 years as having to spend £25m per season to stand still, and finally realised that he does not have the finances to fire us back up the table.

I can't agree at all. I think the last two seasons have all been about setting us up for a sale.

But still spent nearly £40m in those 2 seasons.

Would your beloved Herbert have done the same?

What spend the bare minimum to survive in the league? Yes I think he did. And beloved? Just because Lerner has produced worse seasons than I ever experienced under Doug doesn't mean I loved what he was doing.

[Ginko]

Randy doesn't enjoy the media attention and rarely makes statements. I seriously doubt anyone as secretive as Randy would choose to speak now if there wasn't already a deal in the pipeline. The fans have been calling for him to make his loyalties known for months now. He hasn't made these comments today because he's concerned about leaving the fans in limbo or worried that the fans will turn on him, plenty already have and he's ignored the criticism perfectly well for a long time.

 

Due to what we know about him and his privacy, I don't think he'd come out with anything unless it was almost nailed on that we had a buyer. I'd say a sale is pretty close. He keeps things schtum as a rule. I can't see him sticking his neck out and saying his heart was no longer in owning us if there was no offer on the table. He doesn't take those kinds of risks. 

 

Perhaps the potential buyer has requested to not be named until a certain time either?

 

The people who believe the worst will happen are just your stereotypical pessimistic football fans. The same sort of people who thought the fates would conspire against us to see us relegated because 'that's just our luck as Villa fans,' despite the fact we've never been relegated from the Premier League and the teams below us were in poor form. But no, we were going to get relegated because we just have bad luck like that. Never mind that Norwich had to play their final two games against two of the best teams in the league and had to get results at both despite their unbelievably poor form throughout the whole season. 

 

And now they're back, seeing what they want to see and being doom-mongers. Perhaps they're right and a sale isn't in place, nothing is ever certain in life, but the evidence so far suggests otherwise to me, so I don't really understand why people feel this way just yet. Let's just wait and see what happens and moan when/if the worst does come to pass, yeah? 

Edited May 12, 2014 by Ginko

[useless]

I still wouldn't be surprised Lambert leaves before any takeover deal goes through. He might even walk if another club contacts him about possible employment.