bully Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Mail calls on Villa to come clean Jan 20 2006 By Steve Dyson, Editor, Birmingham Mail IT'S time for somebody to come clean on the Villa takeover. Fans are fed up with being told the £64 million deal proposed by Brian and Luke Comer, fronted by self-professed 'lifelong Villa fan' Michael Neville, is 'almost done'. Yet another 'deadline' has passed and still there is nothing to report on a deal first mooted in October. Last weekend, we were told, was to be crucial to the Irish brothers' hopes of succeeding. And yet the days continue to pass and the silence is deafening on real progress. All we hear is Neville insisting the deal is alive, or hints from club sources that the deal is on the verge of collapse because the buyers are still £10 million short. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT Reports from Ireland even suggest the proposed buy-out has, in fact, already ground to a halt due to conflicting views over the club's worth. What is clear is that Villa fans deserve the truth and a simple answer to a simple question: Is the deal on or not? The initial buzz on the terraces about a brave new dawn at Villa Park has now turned to frustration - and scepticism. And, to be honest, the failure to close or reject the deal after three months of talking is making a laughing stock of the club. The takeover was supposed to be completed before Christmas... then before the New Year... then just after the New Year, enabling David O'Leary to have £20 million to spend in the transfer window. So what's the delay? And what of the unrest the protracted negotiations are causing in the dressing room? O'Leary has stated more than once that takeover uncertainty is having an adverse effect on his players, (we pointedly commented on as much the day after the infamous 0-3 Doncaster result). Some observers point out, of course, that continuing due diligence as the books get pored over in minute detail will always prevent any trumpet fanfare until a deal is done or collapses. But something just doesn't add up. While key figures at Villa want to sell, including major shareholder Jack Petchey, it seems that chairman Doug Ellis might not want to hand over the reins. There has been sustained, gentle persuasion from inside the boardroom for Ellis to step aside, for his health if nothing else. The problem is that a triple heart bypass operation and prostate cancer have failed to curb Ellis' enthusiasm for a 70-hour week. He was even back behind his desk last week hours after having a minor operation, under anaesthetic, at Priory Hospital. This is not the action of a man getting ready to sell up. And he has uttered as much in private to those who have his ear, sources today hinting he is unhappy with the Irish delay and is on the brink of pulling the plug. Ray Ranson didn't even get to first base with his bid last year because Ellis simply would not sell. OK, the Comers have brought an extra £20 million to the table, but they too are now struggling at second base. Those with long memories will recall Ellis telling shareholders at October's Annual General Meeting that he hoped to have some concrete proposals within a month. That concrete now appears to be a collection of loose pebbles. And so, Doug - and anyone else keeping cards close to their chests in this agonising chapter of Villa's history - the Birmingham Mail today says your time is up. And we demand that you tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth on exactly where these talks are going. Villa fans deserve nothing less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattley Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 BREAKING NEWS..... 153 yr old villa chairman admits talks with the Comers have come to an end. To appease 112 yr old manager DOL Ellis has handed him a 5 thousand pound transfer kitty to help our push towards league 2 promotion. Thats a scarey though, I can imagine ellis's head being preserved in a glass jar like on Futurama and running the club forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablopicasso Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 **** too right.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCresswell Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Well done on the Evening Mail. At last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Written by Steve Dyson. Makes a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenjos Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/villatakeover thats the only link off the paper. the title. is: Time to come clean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avfcinwales Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 They are obviously party to some inside information if they are willing to go to print like that. A U turn if there ever was one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Unless an announcement is imminent in which case they can say "It was the Mail that achieved this" etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wurzel Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Nothing there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 the deal is dead and probably ahs been for some time .. nothing until close season when maybe someone else will try again Burley was tapped up to become the new Manager , and is now with another club , DOL's farewell to Doug at Blues , interviews with players after blues on sky ..ie "the chairmans LAST game , ...retract " you have to assume it died back in October to be honest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NurembergVillan Posted January 20, 2006 Moderator Share Posted January 20, 2006 The problem is that a triple heart bypass operation and prostate cancer have failed to curb Ellis' enthusiasm for a 70-hour week. I presume that's how long he's awake as opposed to how long he's at work :evil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddybloke Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 according to my housemate a journo said that it was Pathetic that we couldnt afford a loan to which oleary just said it was Ellis again. Nice to see some one actually mention the "P" word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilsonrx Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Its good to see the Mail printing what we are all thinking. Lets just hope it can prompt someone to come out and say something to clear the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRobinson Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Re: the Mail article - it should also be stated that it is an editorial type piece placed on the front page of the paper. A very welcome intervention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianrobo1 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 very interesting indeed based on the articles yesterday, it can only be presumed that the Mail have the inside information on something and are trying to force the club, I wonder if they have tried to interview Ellis ??? I also wonder if they know the reason why the so called bid has stalled ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCresswell Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 If they did Ian, they would print it. I imagine they've got nothing else to put up on the front page, noticed Villa fans are getting restless, and bingo - a story out of nowhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRobinson Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Thats a pretty cynical take on the situation JC! They give a timeline with regards to the whole sorry saga and base the story on the fact they have been covering it for so long - I think, as a paper should, it is reflecting the mood of the people, but its not out of nowhere. I was really pleased to see it on the front page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victie1 Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT: RNS Number:2643X Aston Villa PLC 20 January 2006 For Immediate Release 20 January 2006 Aston Villa Plc ("Aston Villa") Update on Discussions and Appointment of Rothschild as Financial Adviser The Board of Aston Villa has been considering how best to take the company and its principal asset, Aston Villa Football Club, onto the next stage of its development. As per our announcement dated 31 October 2005, the Board has held discussions with Aston Villa Investments Limited ("AVIL") in the context of AVIL having provided Aston Villa with an indicative proposal to acquire the company, which if converted into a firm offer, the Board of Aston Villa would recommend to shareholders. To date the Board is not aware that AVIL has performed detailed due diligence on Aston Villa and has not been provided with evidence of AVIL's financial ability to proceed with an acquisition. The Board of Aston Villa has with immediate effect appointed Rothschild to act as financial adviser to help it determine the best strategy for the future of Aston Villa. This includes, amongst other strategies, seeking a possible acquirer for the company who would build on the achievements of the current management team and pave the way for future success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilsonrx Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Very interesting! From the LSE website: For Immediate Release 20 January 2006 Aston Villa Plc ("Aston Villa") Update on Discussions and Appointment of Rothschild as Financial Adviser The Board of Aston Villa has been considering how best to take the company and its principal asset, Aston Villa Football Club, onto the next stage of its development. As per our announcement dated 31 October 2005, the Board has held discussions with Aston Villa Investments Limited ("AVIL") in the context of AVIL having provided Aston Villa with an indicative proposal to acquire the company, which if converted into a firm offer, the Board of Aston Villa would recommend to shareholders. To date the Board is not aware that AVIL has performed detailed due diligence on Aston Villa and has not been provided with evidence of AVIL's financial ability to proceed with an acquisition. The Board of Aston Villa has with immediate effect appointed Rothschild to act as financial adviser to help it determine the best strategy for the future of Aston Villa. This includes, amongst other strategies, seeking a possible acquirer for the company who would build on the achievements of the current management team and pave the way for future success. Enquiries Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000 Mark Edwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Well well well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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