Football board

[Richard]

7 minutes ago, briny_ear said:

 

What else would there be for them to discuss?

How to make it more sellable and retain more value in the sale for Randy and their percentage cut

[briny_ear]

Sorry x2 post

Edited April 7, 2016 by briny_ear

[briny_ear]

4 hours ago, markavfc40 said:

Bernstein is heading up the football board alongside Little, Merv King and quite possibly Bevington now. Major decisions such as appointing a manager though will ultimately go before the main board which would include Hollis and Krulak. This is what Bernstein said very recently. Nothing has changed as far as who the Chairman is as that would be a major announcement.

Ultimately as supporters we just want these people to start making the right decisions don’t we something they haven’t done for years. Changes needed to made there is no doubt about that. Massive test for them coming up over the next few weeks with the appointment of a new manager but regardless of who is sitting on the board unless a manager is going to get assurances regarding financial backing no decent manager is likely to want to touch us. Certainly not someone like Moyes.

Thanks Mark for alerting me to the fact that Bernstein had recently spoken about this - I hadn't picked that up. I found an article in the Birmingham Mail of 26th March where he sketches out the relationship much as you describe it.

Now this was three days before Remi Garde departed and I note the article also says this: 

Quote

Bernstein explained the working relationship he will have with Villa's manager, currently Remi Garde, in his role as chairman of the football board.

"The manager is going to report into me directly," he added. "And he knows that he is dealing with someone who can deliver on his part - if we think all the requests for what he needs are correct."

3 days later Garde parted company with the club so I wonder how that decision was made? It's the first test case in a way - would the football board have discussed it and recommended accepting Garde's resignation? And to whom? Hollis? Lerner? Both? Whose decision was it finally?

Although I am feeling quite negative about the lack of communication and transparency around the latest changes to the board, I will say that the departure of Garde was the first managerial departure since 2009 that went relatively smoothly and effectively. Every other managerial appointment and departure under Lerner seems to have been been botched in some way or other. This one went OK and at the right time. So maybe there is hope that the next appointment will go better.

But I agree the bit in bold is key and on that we have no clarity.

Edited April 7, 2016 by briny_ear

[dont_do_it_doug.]

This "football board" nonsense was, in my opinion, a PR move designed to pacify fans after the Tom Fox era in which he, seemingly, placed commercial revenue as his highest priority. 

He was right to do that IMO, he simply neglected to ensure he had the correct people alongside and below him to look after the on the pitch stuff. He completely **** botched that part, he was an idiot, but the structure itself was sound in principle.  

This idea of splitting the football board from the commercial board is tripe. There should be one board at a football club, working together and singing from the same hymn sheet. I sincerely hope that it is only PR waffle and that at board meetings they sit in the same room with each other. If not, we are absolutely ****. Worse than we thought. 

[VillaChris]

Was in Nottingham today and was reading an interview with that mad Nottingham Forest owner. He wanted Bevington to be chief exec but he declined. I know he's only an advisor atm but possibly he might say yes if we ask the question.

I think the board thing is split as we have two people at the club who could do the same job....Hollis and Bernstein. Hollis is currently chairman but Bernstein can do that job with his eyes closed as he demonstrated helping Man. City getting back up the leagues and also at the FA.

Ideally I'd have Bernstein as chairman, Bevington as CEO and Hollis flying back and forth to the states asking Randy for another fiver for the transfer warchest.

[Godders]

On 7 April 2016 at 18:05, dont_do_it_doug. said:

This "football board" nonsense was, in my opinion, a PR move designed to pacify fans after the Tom Fox era in which he, seemingly, placed commercial revenue as his highest priority. 

He was right to do that IMO, he simply neglected to ensure he had the correct people alongside and below him to look after the on the pitch stuff. He completely **** botched that part, he was an idiot, but the structure itself was sound in principle.  

This idea of splitting the football board from the commercial board is tripe. There should be one board at a football club, working together and singing from the same hymn sheet. I sincerely hope that it is only PR waffle and that at board meetings they sit in the same room with each other. If not, we are absolutely ****. Worse than we thought. 

So what is it about this structure that doesn't seem right to you? 

Reading your post, I think Hollis is doing what you saw Fox failing at - getting the right people alongside and below him to look after the on the pitch stuff.

Why is splitting the football and commercial board tripe? Surely getting the right people in a room making key decisions specific to a main function of the club makes sense? Especially a function that is seen by many as requiring very specific, bespoke knowledge?

From being a long time lurker on these boards, I believe many fans have been concerned with the fact that non-footballing people are making footballing decisions. Hollis, with the football board, seems to have changed. We now seem to have football industry relevant leadership making football related decisions in the club. Key decisions have to be sanctioned by the main board- makes sense since we can't afford Messi's buyout clause and wages no matter how much Bernstein and Little would like to see him here.

I sincerely hope this is not PR waffle, and that at board meetings, the right decisions are made to take the club forward. 

[Stevo985]

I don't think it's tripe.

But I do think it's different.

Time will tell whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. I've got no problem with it as a concept.

[dont_do_it_doug.]

@Godders it's no way to run a successful business. The commercial people need to understand, fully, what the remit is from a football stand point in order to market the club correctly. There needs to be complete symbiosis. One board, one vision, one machine.

The idea of splitting them off and leaving a single link between them, Steve Hollis as or stands, fills me with dread. Instead of being "different" why don't we action a strategy that's proven to work! 

Thankfully, it's PR waffle designed to pacify fans. It worked in some cases too. I personally wish instead of treating us like idiots who wouldn't understand, they simply told us the truth in as much detail as is legitimate. Shouting "FOOTBALL BOARD, LOOK AT OUR NEW FOOTBALL BOARD" does nothing for my belief. 

[markavfc40]

27 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

The idea of splitting them off and leaving a single link between them, Steve Hollis as or stands, fills me with dread. Instead of being "different" why don't we action a strategy that's proven to work! 

Thankfully, it's PR waffle designed to pacify fans. It worked in some cases too. I personally wish instead of treating us like idiots who wouldn't understand, they simply told us the truth in as much detail as is legitimate. Shouting "FOOTBALL BOARD, LOOK AT OUR NEW FOOTBALL BOARD" does nothing for my belief. 

I think you are probably right Dave a lot of it is PR waffle and there has been a lot of dressing up of this football board concept.

Reality is that this is probably no different to what a lot of clubs do without labelling it as we have. You will have a board and with in that board there will be those that specialise on the commercial side and those whose main role is interacting with/overseeing the managerial/players/football side. Those different fractions with in any board room would at times split off and discuss things, make decisions as smaller groups and then share with the wider board as a whole who will collectively sign off on it. We have just felt the need to label ours as a PR exercise.

I personally don't have a problem with those that know the football side being fully focused on that. In fact I wouldn't want it any other way at this time. If Little/Bernstein and whoever else are at the present time 100% focused on bringing in a new manager then fine. If others are looking after the commercial side then again fine.

Whatever the club was doing before and whoever was doing it the last few years has shown it hasn't worked. The league table tells us that. The fact non TV commercial income rose by 6% in 10 years tells us that. Clearly things had to change and we'd all better hope that regardless of what labels are put on it then these changes above the manager result in a decent manager being employed, leading to an improved squad and improvements on the pitch and that off it we start to maximise our commercial income.

[hippo]

Initially I was pleased with the new set up, But with rumours that Little is only there very short term ie the end of the season - and the half assed 'interview' approach to getting the new manager - it seems nothing has changed and we are still working from the Tom Fox template.

[markavfc40]

Bernstein and King have resigned apparently

[GENTLEMAN]

Well that didn't last too long lol.

[YGabbana]

Shambles. Complete shambles

[PieFacE]

Lasted exactly a month

[mjmooney]

On 17/03/2016 at 16:27, rodders0223 said:

I look forward to bumping posts like this when it all goes to rat shit in a years time

 

There ya go. Didn't take a year.

[dudevillaisnice]

Turns out the club is being sold..

[villa4europe]

I dunno if that's just a throw away easy win from the media team, I'll believe it when I see it but if it is those 2 have quit because what they suggested isn't being implemented and it's not being implemented because of a sale then I know which one I'd rather have

[Pilchard]

The football board was a bit like Guzan in goal.

Started off ok and you think you know what - perhaps it might go ok today. Twenty minutes later he's thrown one in the back of the net again.

* sigh *

[briny_ear]

Turns out the club is being sold..

It really isn't. The best they could manage was that Hollis is in "extensive negotiations" to sell the club, i.e., desperately hawking it to anyone who will listen. We shall see but I have s feeling - could be wrong with any luck - that Randy will be with us in the Championship.

[Gary Thomas]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5576245,00.html

Aston Villa Football Club can confirm today that Adrian Bevington has decided to leave his advisory position with the Club.

Bevington joined the Club to review and evaluate the managerial position and playing staff at Villa Park in March.

Aston Villa Chairman Steve Hollis said: "I'd like to place on record my thanks to Adrian for his contribution and professionalism.

"Over a short period of time, he has provided a great deal of football knowledge and experience - both to the Club and to me personally.

"Adrian gave me his word he would remain with the Club until the end of the season. Now that time has come we wish him well for the future with his various football commitments."

Adrian Bevington said: "I explained to Steve Hollis a few weeks ago that I would not be looking to take on a full-time role with the Club, but agreed to remain as an advisor until the end of the season.

"I know how hard Steve is working on a number of levels and I hope he can conclude the ownership and managerial positions very soon.

"I have enjoyed working with Steve and Brian Little - a man who clearly cares so much for the Club and will do everything he can to help it succeed.

"I'd also like to make particular reference to Eric Black. Eric has been a true professional to work with after taking on the manager's role in the most difficult circumstances.

"There is a huge amount of work ahead for Aston Villa FC. A Club of its size with its great support should be competing at the higher levels of the Premier League, not in the position it currently finds itself.

"To move forward, now more than ever, it is crucial the Club makes the right calls on the big decisions it is faced with.

"I wish everyone at Aston Villa FC and its supporters every success for the future."