An open message to Randy Lerner from The Birmingham Mail

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Randy Lerner potentially has a week to save Villa’s season.

If Lerner thinks Paul Lambert is still the man to rescue Villa – and the jury among the fans is very much out – then he must free up the funds to give him a fighting chance of survival. If not, then the secretive billionaire must act swiftly and decisively to bring in a boss who can give this faltering football club the kiss of life it so desperately needs, before it is too late.

Either way, Villa are crying out for a fresh impetus in the dressing room and/or the manager’s office and the choice is stark: back Lambert or sack him. Or do nothing, of course. Villa can take positive action to influence their fate or they can fiddle while Witton burns. The chances are, given Lerner’s reluctance to dismiss managers – particularly mid-season – that Lambert’s job is safe – for now. So before the transfer window closes on January 31, sufficient cash must be made available to bring in experienced players to halt Villa’s alarming slide towards the Championship.

Tuesday’s defeat by League Two Bradford was unacceptable and embarrassing, but not particularly surprising.

It was the culmination of arguably the most depressing four-week period in Villa’s history. Humiliation after humiliation.

The Capital One Cup semi-final exit might not even be the lowest point of this season – come May, Villa could exit the top flight too.

The real problem facing Villa now is relegation.

Villa are one of the biggest clubs in the country and founder members of the Football League and the Premier League.

Going down is unthinkable.

But they have won only four league games all season and, with eight draws and 11 defeats, that’s just 20 points out of a possible 69.

They sit just a point and a place above the bottom three – and their minus-25 goal difference is worth another point to their relegation rivals.

This is a bleak mid-winter indeed and it’s amazing how patient the fans have been. It’s almost as if they have accepted the inevitable.

Some blame Lambert for the naivety of his tactics and his recruitment policy, some doubt whether any other manager could do more during the club’s current malaise and some would not trust the board to recruit a better replacement given their track record of previous managerial appointments.

As the club’s chief custodian, has a responsibility to break his silence and tell the worried band of followers exactly how he intends to stop the rot.

He can’t just sit behind a veil of privacy, saying nothing, hoping everything will be okay.

Fans are desperate for reassurances that he still cares enough for their club to bring Villa back from the brink.

If not they want to know whether the novelty has worn off to the extent that he is considering selling up and leaving.

Nobody is taking for granted the £200 million Lerner has already pumped into the club, but by doing so he created an expectation that this club would go forwards, not backwards under his ownership.

Once you raise hopes by embarking upon a Grand Designs project to restore a listed English Heritage stately home to its former glory, there is something of an obligation to maintain it, rather than letting it go to rack and ruin when the high end fixtures and fittings need replacing.

We appreciate Lerner is trying to balance the books but if Villa go down it will cost them more than £60 million in lost Premier League revenue.

Villa can’t keep relying on the kids who have been playing their hearts out but just don’t have the necessary nous for this kind of battle or the inconsistent seniors.

They need help and Lerner must give them that help.

Over to you, Randy.

[Dave Clark Five]

Don't hold your breath.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Don't hold your breath.

I doubt he'll give a flying fuck in a rolling doughnut.

[Dave Clark Five]

'Is this the Birmingham, Alabama, Mail?'

[Rip Van We Go Again]

'Is this the Birmingham, Alabama, Mail?'

ha ha.

He'll probably end up wiping his arse (ass) on it.

[andyh]

fair play to the mail though, at least they are trying to communicate the concerns we have. It probably the only way the message 'might' get across.

[eastie]

Doubt he or faulkner will even bother reading it .

[PaulWinch again]

What's so frustating virtually more than anything is the lack of communication from the club. I mean fucking hell, is there a poorer club in the Premier League for PR? it's horrendous it really is.

[Risso]

Can't disagree with much of that letter.

[Dave Clark Five]

What's so frustating virtually more than anything is the lack of communication from the club. I mean fucking hell, is there a poorer club in the Premier League for PR? it's horrendous it really is.

There is plenty of communication from the various departments such as marketing, ticket office, hospitality etc but when it comes down to playing matters there is nothing. Even if they didn't say anything but actually did something it would be a start. I am pissed off over this continual silence.

[villajk]

fair play to the mail though, at least they are trying to communicate the concerns we have. It probably the only way the message 'might' get across.

This.

[Nev]

Lerner and Faulkner might take a bit of notice if the letter was signed by that whiskey faced bully from Govan.

The pair of starry eyed fuckin' buffoons.

[Greg N'Ash]

Agree with its key point. Either back him with money or get someone in who can motivate, organise and coach the existing players because Lambert can't

[Walmley_Villa]

They should be asking why the books need balancing? Appalling business management to get in that much of a mess.

[PaulWinch again]

What's so frustating virtually more than anything is the lack of communication from the club. I mean fucking hell, is there a poorer club in the Premier League for PR? it's horrendous it really is.

There is plenty of communication from the various departments such as marketing, ticket office, hospitality etc but when it comes down to playing matters there is nothing. Even if they didn't say anything but actually did something it would be a start. I am pissed off over this continual silence.

Agreed and those pointless interviews with players on the website, which are finished with 'buy tickets for 'insert name of club'. Well how about the club give us a reason to think they're doing anything with hard earned money it costs to buy tickets and support the club?