AVST AGM

[cheltenhamlion]

Sam Gallagher?

That they were definitely not sharing!

[SoccerHQ]

Joe Hart would be my guess.

We were linked to him last summer.

[Richard E]

Alexis Sanchez.

[Toronto Villa]

Joe Hart would be my guess.

We were linked to him last summer.

I doubt it given how much they liked Sam Johnstone. I reckon it was Messi who has only got 35 goals in 43 games vs Ronaldo who has 37 goals in 35 games. We are better without some poxy player who can't average at least a goal a game.

[Pat McMahon]

Good updates - thanks to all who attended and posted

[TheMalandro]

No mention about pressure washing the North Stand?

That's my favourite fan concern.

[Sexual Ealing]

No mention about pressure washing the North Stand?

That's my favourite fan concern.

I like to think that that question was always asked by self-employed pressure washers.

[Legion]

AVST AGM 20/03/18 – Holte Suite, Villa Park.


Minutes

AVST Chair Person: Peter Warilow (PW)
In attendance from AVFC: Keith Wyness (KW) and Steve Round (SR)

AVST would like to thank Debbie Beamond from Pride of the Midlands for taking the minutes.


Q.
VP Regeneration: It was questioned if the regeneration would be affected by companies moving in between VP and M6.

A.
KW – a) focusing on closer to VP so more around VP and to Witton station, although Witton station is down to National Rail not AVFC.
b) No date for North Stand improvements.

Q.
Can AVFC bring back the sticker with Season ticket purchases?

A.
KW - With the cost of advertising in taxis would it not be a good investment to give ST holders there car stickers back as this is pretty much free all time advertising; however, will mention to the relevant dept.

Q.
Witton station needs repainting and being in our colours doesn't reflect the club well. 

A.
KW – It’s not as simple as we painting it ourselves because it’s not Villa's property - it is National Rail’s property. It was already on their list to be done though, with Birmingham winning the Commonwealth Games for 2022 and it has moved higher up the list.
 

KW also expressed how pleased he was that VP will be hosting the rugby for the Commonwealth Games and their involvement was instrumental in Birmingham being awarded the games. The games had no impact on any VP improvement timings. 


Q.
FFP - What happens if we don't go up? Will we have to go meat on bones for cutting our cloth?


A.
KW - Can't go into detail, as it's commercially sensitive. Steve Round has looked at both options (staying in the EFL or getting promoted) so plans are in place for both eventualities. There is a plan for adhering to FFP for if we don't get promotion. It would be a tight squeeze, but is manageable with still having a good squad. There are other ways to get some allowances accounted for. 

There is also an on-going debate with EFL about current FFP amounts and how to get them raised. When the limits were set the parachute was £20m and now being £42m this needs to increase accordingly, but loss allowances have stayed the same. 
There are 17 clubs currently agreeing with these proposals and it needs to be 18 to be voted in. There should be resolution in the next month or so. This would help a lot for another season in Championship, if that was to the outcome, but regardless we will have a competitive squad.
  

Q.
FFP and Wolves 

A.
KW - Two areas in question: Rule A1 - no party to have material influence on team.
There is a further query on potentially circumventing lower contracts wages and being paid another way. There is no evidence of this but we want the EFL to look into properly.
 

Q.
Player Recruitment / Scouting

SR - Targets are confidential. Recruitment has been flat out for three months working on a two-fold attack for Championship & PL. If it the Championship, it will be a challenging squad, but within FFP. If PL, players would be needed to keep us up. 
SR said how bad the youth and scouting system had become when he came in 18 months ago. 

The club has been scouting Europe, America and domestic markets, amongst others. Getting a good database together now though still need to build and expand it but getting there. 


They have a pyramid process for scouting. 

1st tier - scout identifies two to three players 

2nd tier - SR sees them

3rd tier - Steve Bruce goes to see narrowed down.
 
Steve Bruce has final say on recruitment. Not one player has been signed he didn't want.
 
With a couple young ones Bruce has trusted judgment. E.g. Bedeau, whereas James Bree - Bruce went to see him three times. Some are seen together. There are some disagreements, but they talk through as they respect each other's opinions.

Snodgrass – it was an easy decision, as both knew him and Bruce worked with him so they knew his ability and that he's good in the dressing room. 

Once a player has bee decided on then they look at finance to see if we can afford it. 


Agent’s fees have been kept to a minimum and not broken the limit for anyone. It cost us signing one player and “where he ended up he’s been useless”. 

Also looking at Panama and Uruguay to see if there's a market there. 


Brexit - possibly things will change, e.g. from July can take in Croatian players more easily than before because no work permit required. 

There is a four-tier system with contracts so that no one is under or over paid. 


Q.
Talent pool

A.
SR - Always look at what they can get but also the player must be commitment to wear the shirt, proud to play for Villa, commitment to the club and being a footballer. 


Q.
Training Ground Atmosphere

A.
SR – It is much more competitive, cohesive and positive, than 18 months ago. Everyone wants to come to work, as it's a happy place to be. 

There was a commotion in dining room at BH at 5pm one day and he discovered JT and Snoddy playing head tennis. Both wanted to win - and there had to be a winner and neither prepared to concede. They were still playing at 6.30 and had to be kicked out.


Q.
With Bruce having final say on players will it be down to him if fail to be promoted?
 
A.
KW – There are assurances in football. Still eight games to go and we all still believe can get promotion. 

Not going to say whether Steve Bruce will be in or out either way and we shouldn’t not to read anything into that. There's been big strides forward and have to wait to see where we are at the end of the season.
Q.
JT and news he wants to stay?

A.
SR – JT has expressed interest he wants to stay on and play. 

If promoted, he will most likely be with us - if not, then will have to see where we are.


Q.
North stand toilet issue - Could the old Lions lounge toilets be used when lounge not in use?

A.
KW - Not aware of any issue and without this coming across in a bad way would need to look into it. Keith said in past few weeks there has been about a thousand burst pipes due to the cold weather.
 
Q.
Have they considered a Director of Football for Continuity?
 

KW - This is Steve Round’s role. 

SR - they have philosophy of train hard, have the right character and need to be ready for when your call comes. Kodjia and Green both played 45 mins in behind closed doors game tonight (Tuesday). Kodjia’s initial diagnosis was he would not be fit to return this season, so testament to him and medical team that able to play today. 

Hull will be too early for him as needs longer then 45 mins to be ready but post that possibly. 

Also Lansbury and Samba played last night. Rest were youth players.
 

Q.
Training with players away on International duty

A.
SR – When they're back everyone can train together. Hoping for no injuries.
 

Q.
Elaborate on Villas playing style

A.
SR - when I came in there was no identity and it was a mish-mash of different things. We spoke with ex players (inc Peter Withe, Brian Little), AVST, staff to find out who and what is Aston Villa and how it looks. What came from that was people identify Villa with hard work ethic, competitiveness, passion and more direct football. Balls into the box with a no 9 on end of them getting the crowd lifted like the Wolves game.
 
Steve Bruce buys into it. Steve Agnew was added to the coaching staff to help with it.

The identity is enduring but we have got a foothold on it now and with staff, players and managers who care. It’s been nicknamed the "Villa engine" due to the industrial heartbeat from the region. 


Man City had to get foothold and that took time to develop.
 
Shout from room " We need a sheikh"
 
KW -  "no, we've got a Chinaman"


SR - a blueprint is being implemented throughout the club. There is a performance plan for ages 7/8 upwards with pride, passion and purpose instilled in all. Playing for Villa has got to mean something.





Q.
With how volatile things are in the world do we have a Plan B as we don't know what will happen with China? 

A.
KW – It’s been the strangest year for political goings on. Tony Xia is not in it for short term but the long term. He has significant assets offshore (which gives Keith comfort) and other things in global business but we are a small part compared to his other parts. So, there’s no need for a Plan B. 


Q.
Pitch lowering (& state of pitch) and with pitch lowering have they factored in high-grade water. 

A.
KW - Pitch was due to be replaced last summer and same day KW had meeting with Tony and brought it up. We won pitch of the year from EFL. So it was decided to give it another season. 

Contracts have been signed for replacement Dessi pitch to go down this summer. 

Pitch is not been lowered as such, but hoardings are currently 600cm and need to be 900cm so work will be on going there too so won't be affected water wise. 

Q.
If/when manager changes how many coaching staff would go with Bruce?
 

SR - difficult to say how many might go as depends if want to go and if Bruce wanted them. Existing staff are harmonious and focusing on promotion and staff being with us a while yet. We have a core of staff like head of medicine, performance analysis, that are elite professional experts. This doesn’t ensure they won't change but two have been headhunted by ‘bigger clubs’ and chose to stay. 


KW - Idea to limit staff leaving when manager changes and then bring in a manager that fits existing philosophy.
  

Q.
If is the play offs will there be concessions for the fans for the home leg?

A.
KW – He doesn’t accept it's the play offs yet. But if that is the case want to full the stadium. Have shown they are fair with fans before if you look at ST prices and cup games and want to see it rocking like it was at Wolves. 


SR – Doesn’t accept it's playoffs either and nor does anyone in the club.

Q.
Are you happy with the merchandise solution? 

A.
KW - overall happy with it. Was losing £1.5 million a year now is profitable. 

Q.
Loan players that are spine, are we going to lose them? Would we have to sell out better players if don't go up? 

A.
KW - not part of the plan. Correct loan players may go back, depends what division we will be in. Planning for both. 

SR - Advantage having loan players at the moment as five can be on team sheet at one time. In PL this is two from domestic and others would have to be from Europe. We're on top of it. If promoted may keep some of being in from other clubs.


Q.
HS2 and BH.

KW – Secretary of State should be signing for ownership of extra land to move pitches so can stay at BH. The extra land is further away from the railway. The academy pitches that we’ll be losing will mean the pitches on the extra land that will be closer to training building. 
Have got equivalent replacement and Villa will also put some extra money in take improvements.
Pitches on we will be losing were coming towards end of there life so we having money for replacement which means will be cost neutral with the land and the installation of like for like pitches. Only cost to Villa will be any they choose to spend on improvements.

Q.
Do we have any loan players that have to play or play so many games?

A.
SR - No. Have to earn right to be in team not having that, no chance. 


Q.
Could FFP be challenged in the courts?


KW - possibly under the competition law but it would be very tricky and costly for one club to do it. He believes there's potential for 12-14 breaches on FFP next season. Penalties aren't prescribed.
 
Leicester is now settled but QPR and Bournemouth are under appeal. 


Q.
More coverage U23s on you tube was asked for

A.
KW will look into it.

Q.
What we doing to ensure not losing home-grown talent e.g. Gary Cahill

A.
SR - Steve Bruce believes in home grown talent. Unfortunately some won't get to the level needed. If we get them to there best level and if that's not enough for us, they play will elsewhere, then we've done right by them.
 
AV has been the main contributor to England - only recently pipped by Spurs.  There are some exciting prospects coming through - some breaking through and some on loan to get some experience. Some need a bit more time first like, O'hare and Clark.
 

[kippaxvilla2]

They seem to know what they’re doing.  I’m liking the plan and structure.  First time for a long, long time.