The 2016 Takeover Thread

[villarule123]

Thanks for the first 4 years Randy.

I don't hate the guy, he had good intentions but he obviously didn't have a clue about football. 

Of course, my opinion of him will change drastically if he's just signed our death warrant. 

[MessiWillSignForVilla]

Just now, KJT123 said:

SSN just read out a statement from Lerner. Can't see anything on the OS?

Here's a link to it http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5580392,00.html

A few people have quoted it in the thread too.

[trekka]

Just now, KJT123 said:

SSN just read out a statement from Lerner. Can't see anything on the OS?

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5580392,00.html

 

[Sam3773]

That's the guy? He looks 15.

Found an article from Harvard in 2010 saying he was 24. That means he's 30 now.

Could probably do a better job up front than our current crop.

[VillaBrum]

OMG - just seen how to pronounce "Xia" on utube. Note how it's put into writing

 

[Neil]

1 minute ago, villarule123 said:

Thanks for the first 4 years Randy.

I don't hate the guy, he had good intentions but he obviously didn't have a clue about football. 

Of course, my opinion of him will change drastically if he's just signed our death warrant. 

I don't hate the guy, but if the electric chair was still a punishment I'd vote for him to get it.

[maqroll]

3 minutes ago, dotcomsimon said:

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~5580392,00.html

 

Farewell message from Randy Lerner

 

Goodbye to all that…
Announcement of agreement to sell Aston Villa to Tony Xia

In spite of my personal affection for reading history I have come to trust the future more than the past. And when I refer to the 'past,' I do so lightly and lightheartedly. I refer to recent accounts - mostly in the press regarding the sale of the Club, that are so many miles from accuracy or truth that I can only assume that they too were written by people whose tongues were firmly embedded in their respective cheeks. It is football after all.

As I've said, it was my hope that ownership and custodianship of the Club would have been transferred some years ago when I knew that personal and professional matters made it impossible for me to contribute the time I did in my first five years with the Club. Time and immersion that is crucial to any formula for success. Still, fates are fickle in football so that we could claw back to safety last season, end up at Wembley at a Cup Final sitting amongst old friends!, and then spend the 2015/16 campaign at Bannockburn!

As I expect this to be my last message to supporters through the Villa website I thought it worth reiterating that my approach from the beginning, consistent with my longstanding affection for The Trinity, was in three parts: Villa Park infrastructure, Bodymoor Heath infrastructure and the Villa squad. I have a sneaking suspicion that my best chance of any tolerable memories in this regard will lie with the father and son of this trinity…! In the end, however, so many wonderful young players came through Villa during my time and it is to them and supporters alike whom I am indebted. Also, of course, I wish - without mentioning names, to say thank you to countless people with whom I worked at Villa Park and BMH who have touched me personally and from whom I have learned so much.

Finally, being conscious of the popular and dark pastime of wondering aloud how much was spent, or lost, I should like to think that I 'left behind' value which will hopefully endure and benefit this beloved old Club. In being sadly more than tone deaf, I'll not weakly risk trying to sound any positive notes. But what I will say is that if spending to restore and preserve the wonderful Jacobean Holte Hotel at the southern tip of the Ground, or researching and adding the Holte End mosaic as a nostalgic nod to that wonderful Leitch Stand of our past, add to the tally of personal losses then I can offer no counter argument other than to say I would do the same all over!

It is here that the agreement I wish to announce with Tony Xia ties into my short narrative: Tony has built his career around infrastructure. He is certainly a hugely successful businessman but importantly for me he is passionate about architecture, site design and planning. His commitment to invest in the squad, and leadership at Bodymoor Heath was expressed early on but as we visited together, and had some unrushed time to discuss his plans, Tony's excitement to develop Villa Park shone through. I remain convinced that this is a crucial part of the Club's future as it provides a critical, long-term second source of revenue and therefore sustainability for the Club from which squad-funding can potentially come.

It is with that that I want to say thank you, and to wish Tony every success going forward.

DID NOT READ, LOLS

[Neil]

Just now, maqroll said:

DID NOT READ, LOLS

lol, same...read a few words then thought "now go jump off a cliff quietly".

[mwj]

I think it speaks volumes of Randy as a businessman that he picks a mural and a pub renovation as lasting memories of his time at villa park via some rambling half-stoned statement.

Piss off you clown

[krisagg75]

the thing that i'm hopeful is that dr tony seems to have learned from lerners mistakes.whether comoli is a footballing genius is open to debate but at least the good dr has the intelligence to get football people involved.the ex everton guy linked is also a positive.it looks like he's putting a sort of football board together to run the club.no doubt he will have the final say/input but at least he has football knowledge to give him advice.

[maqroll]

So it's pronounced "SHAOWW" Group

[Keyblade]

19 minutes ago, Xela said:

He's been a fan for years!

Tattoo or it didn't happen

[blandy]

18 minutes ago, Designer1 said:

We're not Bickle, we just like you

[Marley the Bognor Villan]

[villa4europe]

You should at least read the last paragraph

Passion to develop villa park, that's interesting

Also think it's interesting as I've said before when we've been linked with other Chinese developers, I think the city itself has a lot of potential for development, I hope these guys have a plan where they're trying to use villa to do something, to promote themselves, promote a product, obvious talk about what we can do in the east but I'd like to think the motivation for a great owner will be what we can do for him in the west

[maqroll]

3 minutes ago, Sam3773 said:

 

 

Found an article from Harvard in 2010 saying he was 24. That means he's 30 now.

 

Could probably do a better job up front than our current crop.

30? Jeezus, he's a kid.

[dotcomsimon]

1 minute ago, villa4europe said:

You should at least read the last paragraph

Passion to develop villa park, that's interesting

Also think it's interesting as I've said before when we've been linked with other Chinese developers, I think the city itself has a lot of potential for development, I hope these guys have a plan where they're trying to use villa to do something, to promote themselves, promote a product, obvious talk about what we can do in the east but I'd like to think the motivation for a great owner will be what we can do for him in the west

Pretty sure Birmingham is going under the biggest construction project of its time over the next 10 years or so

[alreadyexists]

12 minutes ago, Neil said:

Not the one you're thinking of, but it'll do :-

Iain Dowie seems pleased.

[AshVilla]

Tbh i think the ground is fine the current way it is

What needs fixing and investment is the squad build a team capable of being comfortably mid table in the prem then start messing around with the ground expanding e.t.c

Edited May 18, 2016 by AshVilla

[Daweii]

I'm picturing Tony Xia on the pitch at BMH passing it around with the players and having a laugh, I mean he's their age he could build up the kind of rapport with the playing staff that very few owners can.