Questions for Mr. Lerner Sir

[Risso]

The club also sold off a parcel of land (which bit, I don't know) and have in the last year formed a new company for dealing in real estate.

[Chris Smith]

Some points to answer in the original post though aren't there.

How did we offer improved terms to all and sundry if we now have to get people off the wage bill to tie up a free transfer? Particularly as we have knocked 12 players off said wage bill this summer, to include some very high earners?

When did we suddenly become such keen accountants?

And, on The General, Sandie is right. They have dangled the poor sod out to dry. He is a genuine and honest bloke. I get the impression that he isn't really being kept in the loop of what is going on.

God help us if we get a run of injuries again this year.

The change is forced on us by the FFP rules.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Dear Mr Lerner, in one sentence, can you please tell me what your long term intentions are regarding the football club I love?

[Chris Smith]

Dear Mr Lerner, in one sentence, can you please tell me what your long term intentions are regarding the football club I love?

Did you get the letter last week? Their intentions are set out there.

[cheltenhamlion]

The trouble is Chris, I don't see anyone else rushing to comply.

And we didn't care about compliance earlier in the summer when we were talking to some of the names on our original managerial shortlist.

I am intrigued as to why we have changed tack now?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Dear Mr Lerner, in one sentence, can you please tell me what your long term intentions are regarding the football club I love?

Did you get the letter last week? Their intentions are set out there.

Got the letter. Hence the question.
Thought I knew what the LONG TERM intentions were. The intentions set out in the letter seem to be short term only.

[Chris Smith]

The trouble is Chris, I don't see anyone else rushing to comply.

And we didn't care about compliance earlier in the summer when we were talking to some of the names on our original managerial shortlist.

I am intrigued as to why we have changed tack now?

I think a lot of other clubs already comply or are close to it. Article I read a while back said that us, Chelsea and Man City had the most work to do. You can see by the noises coming out of Spurs that they are also conscious of the impact.

Perhaps the reason Benitez, for example, was overlooked was because he couldn't work within the new rules.

[Chris Smith]

Dear Mr Lerner, in one sentence, can you please tell me what your long term intentions are regarding the football club I love?

Did you get the letter last week? Their intentions are set out there.

Got the letter. Hence the question.
Thought I knew what the LONG TERM intentions were. The intentions set out in the letter seem to be short term only.

Sorry, got you now. I am not sure how long term they can be beyond generalisations.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Well I havent read all the thread but I think I get the general idea.

Mr Lerner Sir
When you bought our club a few years back the club badge was re-designed and one star was put next to the lion rampant. I have since that time invested approximately £500 of my capital each season on the understanding that by now at least a couple more stars would be added to that. Indeed as an investor of my capital in Aston Villa for many years I consider it is a basic human right that I should be able to watch us now at least be on the verge of completely dominating european and world football. How much longer do I have to wait before I am watching continually entertaining  winning football for 90 minutes week in week out using a financial model that allows the club to pay us money to come and watch it ?
Yours faithfully,
Some bloke who saw us in the 3rd division.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Just read an interesting article on sportingintelligence.com about why Chelski ain't bothered about FFP, which I am aware of but tried to ignore....til now!
The 2 year "audit" won't kick in for another 2 years...and wages/contracts agreed prior to 2010 can be pretty much ovelooked. As  long as the club can prove they are moving in the "right direction" there won't be any sanctions.
Apologies for those who have already clocked this.

[Risso]

Some points to answer in the original post though aren't there.

How did we offer improved terms to all and sundry if we now have to get people off the wage bill to tie up a free transfer? Particularly as we have knocked 12 players off said wage bill this summer, to include some very high earners?

When did we suddenly become such keen accountants?

And, on The General, Sandie is right. They have dangled the poor sod out to dry. He is a genuine and honest bloke. I get the impression that he isn't really being kept in the loop of what is going on.

God help us if we get a run of injuries again this year.

The change is forced on us by the FFP rules.

Except of course, clubs don't really have to break even for years.  From the regulations:

"The acceptable deviation is EUR 5 million. However it can exceed this level up
to the following amounts only if such excess is entirely covered by contributions
from equity participants and/or related parties:
a) EUR 45 million for the monitoring period assessed in the licence seasons
2013/14 and 2014/15;
b) EUR 30 million for the monitoring period assessed in the licence seasons
2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18;"

So in seven years time, clubs could still be making losses of the best part of £30m.  The new rules have nothing to do with our current position, and everything to do with Lerner's inability to run a business properly.

[Villa'Zawg]

The trouble is Chris, I don't see anyone else rushing to comply.

And we didn't care about compliance earlier in the summer when we were talking to some of the names on our original managerial shortlist.

I am intrigued as to why we have changed tack now?

I think a lot of other clubs already comply or are close to it. Article I read a while back said that us, Chelsea and Man City had the most work to do. You can see by the noises coming out of Spurs that they are also conscious of the impact.

Perhaps the reason Benitez, for example, was overlooked was because he couldn't work within the new rules.

There is absolutely no current danger of Aston Villa failing the FFP rules or being anywhere close to failing FFP rules.

[Risso]

Not that it matters anyway.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Except of course, clubs don't really have to break even for years.  From the regulations:

"The acceptable deviation is EUR 5 million. However it can exceed this level up
to the following amounts only if such excess is entirely covered by contributions
from equity participants and/or related parties:
a) EUR 45 million for the monitoring period assessed in the licence seasons
2013/14 and 2014/15;
b) EUR 30 million for the monitoring period assessed in the licence seasons
2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18;"

So in seven years time, clubs could still be making losses of the best part of £30m.  The new rules have nothing to do with our current position, and everything to do with Lerner's inability to run a business properly.

Or that he has either changed his mind/tack due to current financial situation, OR, given it a go for 4/5 years and decided he doesn't like it anymore.
My earlier reference to "long term" plans applies as I'm pretty sure that is what WE are all interested in.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

"There is absolutely no current danger of Aston Villa failing the FFP rules or being anywhere close to failing FFP rules."

Thanks Villa'Zawg.
Pretty much what I've discovered this morning.