Randy Lerner "State of Aston Villa" Statement

[JJ-AV]

I just got mine. My immediate reaction is I wish they'd shut up about beating Arsenal and Liverpool as if it's some sort of achievement. It wasn't long ago we were competing with them in regards to league position - and both of those clubs have been in decline since.

[Chris Smith]

Nice of them to mention our footballing ambitions?!?

Replace the name Aston Villa Football Club with Any Company PLC and release it to shareholders then it would do the job.

Tgey've learnt from experience that there is no point in making specific predictions as so much is out of their control and it can be used against them when it doesn't come to pass. However, the line " the Clubs revenue can grow and contribute accordingly to player, manager and other football related wages and costs" clearly states that the plan is to keep improving but that  this has to be sustainable.

It might suit the quick fix mentslity of some supporters but it is consistent with the type of club I want us to be.

[russon]

The letter from Mr Lerner Sir landed on my doormat this morning. In short - thanks for your support, knew McLeish would be unpopular at first but right man for the Villa, ambitions to manage for growth. Commercial activities to generate revenue for player and manager wages and costs and create stable business. Target to be in top 20 ranking clubs in Europe by revenue, which we already are.

Worrying take on that by me is that commercial revenue has replaced CL qualification, though of course they are by no means mutually exclusive - but certainly the 'five year plan' seems to have shifted from competing in Europe football-wise to competing in Europe commercially.

So, nothing about football ambitions then?

no, nothing about football apart from the apparent glory in turning over Arsenal & Liverpool at the arse end of a majorly crap season.

It fair breaks yer 'eart Tom that AVFC is just a business model and not a football club these days but in truth that goes for most clubs (franchises, plc's, whatever they're called these days). I cling on to the Villa like a love-sick teenager but I know she's gone really and i should just let her go.

[Lee]

I just got mine. My immediate reaction is I wish they'd shut up about beating Arsenal and Liverpool as if it's some sort of achievement. It wasn't long ago we were competing with them in regards to league position - and both of those clubs have been in decline since.

Exactly!

Nothing has been said that we didn't deduce anyway, in fact it shows a lot of naiievity on how they backed MON and now they have finally realised that they cannot give another Manager/Coach the same kind of remit.

They have gone some way as to detail their thinking in employing AM. Unique, I'll give them that. Only time will tell, but I can see nothing more than a big "told you so" coming their way in the future. (I hope that I'm wrong before anyone jumps on my back)

[JJ-AV]

The letter just furthers my belief that for all their good they really need an experienced football man on the board.

Stride and Dein are the obvious choices.

[pauliewalnuts]

Nice of them to mention our footballing ambitions?!?

Replace the name Aston Villa Football Club with Any Company PLC and release it to shareholders then it would do the job.

Tgey've learnt from experience that there is no point in making specific predictions as so much is out of their control and it can be used against them when it doesn't come to pass. However, the line " the Clubs revenue can grow and contribute accordingly to player, manager and other football related wages and costs" clearly states that the plan is to keep improving but that  this has to be sustainable.

It might suit the quick fix mentslity of some supporters but it is consistent with the type of club I want us to be.

How about a word about aiming to be competitive in the league? Not about making predictions, not about saying they're lavishing millions on us, nothing that extreme, but something to say we're going to compete on the pitch, rather than letting us infer it from the line you quoted.

Something about managing the club prudently, increasing commercial revenue etc BUT with a little of the above would have done the job much better than this, which really reads like a letter to shareholders and just makes the situation look even less inspiring.

How are we meant to be inspired by the increase of revenues and breaking the Deloitte top 20?

Our lack of PR savvy is just amazing.

[TheSandman]

It's pretty stark, isn't it?

I'd expected some guff about our ambitions on the pitch that whilst largely made up as flannel would be aimed at placating the supporters. They didn't even bother to do that. You have to admire their honesty.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

So, in short - Randy hasn't talked about footballing targets on the pitch and were we are aspiring to be one of the top 20 clubs in Europe financially.

I can see why this was only sent out to season ticket holders, it's hardly likely to inspire your casual supporter to make the decision to buy a season ticket is it?

I can fully understand Randy's reasons for doing what he's trying to do and I agree that we couldn't continue with the same transfer policy as under O'Neill however, he should at least have said something along the lines of;

 "improving on the pitch significantly after last season in the league AND aiming to win a domestic cup - this club needs to win trophies" 

[Whiney MacWhineface]

How are we meant to be inspired by the increase of revenues and breaking the Deloitte top 20?

Our lack of PR savvy is just amazing.

I don't know about that. Aiming for something we've already achieved (Deloitte's top 20) is pretty sharp. I'm now concentrating all my enthusiasm on an increase in revenue. We'll have it made then!

[Meanwood Villa]

I just got mine. My immediate reaction is I wish they'd shut up about beating Arsenal and Liverpool as if it's some sort of achievement. It wasn't long ago we were competing with them in regards to league position - and both of those clubs have been in decline since.

Indeed. In fact we finished above Liverpool in 2009/10 having also beaten them during the season. They've since gone backwards but managed to climb a place in the league as we've gone backwards even quicker. But in the eyes of the board we should be celebrating beating them in a meaningless (for them) end of season game with a goal from a player we then flogged to them. Happy days

[Dante Lavelli]

Pretty much as expected. As mentioned above it's pretty hard to state a "pitch related" objective as there are too many variables that the club cannot control.

I've just tried writing what I would like to have read but it's just too vague. Indeed the "competitive in the league" ambition above would cause all sorts of confusion and over analysis. After all I'd say we were competitive now.

[Merv]

"More precisely, our focus is to manage the investments we've made at Villa Park to promote strong financial performance in terms of our commercial activities in order that the Clubs revenue can grow and contribute accordingly to player, manager and other football related wages and costs."

Hmmm, exciting times.

Obviously, I do realise the bottom line in running a football club, but I'm a bit surprised this has been stated in an address to season ticket holders. I might have expected an injection of just a sliver of excitement to whet the appetite for the forthcoming campaign.

I guess we can always bring out a 'Deloitte Top 20 2011-12' commemorative shirt at the end of the season.

[Villa'Zawg]

Proud history, fiscally prudent future.

[Brian Taylor]

It is up to the Youth Academy now to produce a few stars, or they can add mediocrity as well. I hope he gets that $40m back from his hedge fund soon.

"It fair breaks yer 'eart Tom that AVFC is just a business model and not a football club these days but in truth that goes for most clubs (franchises, plc's, whatever they're called these days). I cling on to the Villa like a love-sick teenager but I know she's gone really and i should just let her go".

Hard words Russon..there is always hope and a bit of luck!

[Hookeysmith]

I read the other day in the Sun (yeah i know what you are thinking) that even though our fans general concensus is that we are totally skint that we are in fact the 7th biggest spenders in the prem this close season

For all the gnashing of teeth by everyone, including me, its really only the usual suspects of

Man U
Man Shitty
Chelsea
Liverpool
Arsenal

that have done real spending - they just happen to be the biggest / richest / most in debt (delete as appropriate) clubs in the league

Sunderland have just spent a huge amount on not a single player that i feel would make our first team


So are we really the paupers of the prem?