Record Losses....

[Vanilla]

Not that it matters much now, but the Daily Mirror report on this issue declares openly that Villa paid dablues compensation for poaching the manager. 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Manager-changes-leave-Aston-Villa-posting-losses-of-54million-article872154.html

That £12m can't include compensation to Blues. We installed Eck as manager after 31st May 2011, the date up to which the accounts are made up to.

And, the article states that Houllier left in June 2010. He hadn't even started then! Great journalism that.

All true, but the fact it is basically accepted we poached our manager flies in the face of everything the club stated at the time.

[Sexual Ealing]

[/quote]
He pissed off because he couldn't get his own way and was totally unused to being told what to do, something he hadn't experienced since Cloughie in the 70's.

My ex-manager knew him reasonably well at social functions from his time at Leicester.
I asked her what she thought of him.

'Very opinionated, never wrong and refuses to take anybody else's point of view on board.'

[/quote]

Yeah, but does she really know what went on? In a sense, it doesn't matter - there are several truths.

My girlfriend and I are in the process of splitting up. Ask her why, then ask me, you'll get two very different answers, both as legitimate as each other.

Ask my sister and you'll have another answer - she knows us both but hasn't got a clue what's happening in this regard. But she knows us, so has the inside track.

[Fred]

MON spent a lot of money but a lot on the wrong players.  All you can blame Randy for is backing a manager 100% with a lot of  money and getting not a lot back.

MON did what was best for MON, Be intresting if things follow the same path at Sunderland?

[cdward]

It still beggars belief that we poached a manager, and paid millions in compensation in the process, to a team that had just been relegated by said manager, for the second time. Just what exactly were these people who have introduced subsequent austerity measures for our club, did they think they were getting.
That appointment will turn out to be the biggest waste of money Randy/Faulkner has ever sanctioned.

[Greg N'Ash]

I think you'd be a fool not to lay the blame partly at Lerners door, but by the same token just because the manager left two years ago doesn't mean the decisions he made aren't still affecting the club and will continue to affect the club. Such a complete foul up was made of the finances that its taken two years to stop the Titanic dead in the water, and probably another two to turn it away from the iceberg.

My reasoning is yes, Lerner shouldn't have allowed MON to spend so much, but then you have to ask why? Either Lerner is a complete fuckwit with money, has no concept of profit and loss, and just gave MON money willy-nilly, OR he was made promises on what the spending would achieve and when. as soon as it became obvious that the CL target wasn't going to be met he reigned in the spending and MON walked. I'd say the latter is more likely.

[garyfouroaks]

It still beggars belief that we poached a manager, and paid millions in compensation in the process, to a team that had just been relegated by said manager, for the second time. Just what exactly were these people who have introduced subsequent austerity measures for our club, did they think they were getting.
That appointment will turn out to be the biggest waste of money Randy/Faulkner has ever sanctioned.

There is an insidious sub-text to all of this.

The terms of football maangers  emloyment are now being set by a new breed of CEO in whose interest it is to inflate packages- to justify their own.

Portsmouth, AFTER their first administration, have just sacked their CEO who was earning £1m a year in the Champ. The FA have done this for years (Capello/Sven) to justfiy their own gotesque self determined remuneration.

McLeish didnt need to be "lured", nor did he need his salary increased. What was Faulkner (whose crdentials for his job are unclear) thinking?

Whether McLeish was the best footballing option is Randy's call, but the money side made no sense whatsoever.

[Simon Ward]

Accounts now available on Companies House website! Will digest the information over the weekend!

[Dave Summers]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2108657/I-Aston-Villas-waste--The-Midlander.html#ixzz1nxK1RAiq

Just picked this up from yesterday.  Not a massive fan of Mr Moxley, but I can't argue with much he has written here.  I have long said that Randy's biggest mistake was letting Steve Stride walk out of the door.

[maigrait]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2108657/I-Aston-Villas-waste--The-Midlander.html#ixzz1nxK1RAiq

Just picked this up from yesterday.  Not a massive fan of Mr Moxley, but I can't argue with much he has written here.  I have long said that Randy's biggest mistake was letting Steve Stride walk out of the door.

Yep read that yesterday and thought it was quite well written. Hit the nail on the head by stating that most of our problems are down to inexperience in the company. Randy needs to wise up, admit he was wrong in not getting someone with experience and get at the very least a decent scouting network going. Good job we have a half decent academy.

[TheEgo]

Some journo has tweeted that the accounts say "the directors have recieved confirmation that the owner  intends to support the group for at least one year" the group being Reform Aquisitions Ltd I think? Is that industry speak? Or is that an admission that he is looking to sell in a year?

[Legion]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2108657/I-Aston-Villas-waste--The-Midlander.html#ixzz1nxK1RAiq

Just picked this up from yesterday.  Not a massive fan of Mr Moxley, but I can't argue with much he has written here.  I have long said that Randy's biggest mistake was letting Steve Stride walk out of the door.

Steve left of his own accord and could not have been persuaded otherwise.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2108657/I-Aston-Villas-waste--The-Midlander.html#ixzz1nxK1RAiq

Just picked this up from yesterday.  Not a massive fan of Mr Moxley, but I can't argue with much he has written here.  I have long said that Randy's biggest mistake was letting Steve Stride walk out of the door.

Steve left of his own accord and could not have been persuaded otherwise.

Wish he was still here.

He at least had a footballing brain.

[richardhubbard]

Some journo has tweeted that the accounts say "the directors have recieved confirmation that the owner  intends to support the group for at least one year" the group being Reform Aquisitions Ltd I think? Is that industry speak? Or is that an admission that he is looking to sell in a year?

That supports my comment that if Lerner pulled out there is a risk of adminstration. Without his financial support we would not be a going concern.

I have looked at the balance sheet and the trading arm Aston Villa has negative net worth and is getting worse.

The holding company which lends to Aston Villa has the share equity.

I am not suggesting we are going to admin , but they are not pretty reading

[Simon Ward]

Some journo has tweeted that the accounts say "the directors have recieved confirmation that the owner  intends to support the group for at least one year" the group being Reform Aquisitions Ltd I think? Is that industry speak? Or is that an admission that he is looking to sell in a year?

Industry speak only!

[glasses]

I think you'd be a fool not to lay the blame partly at Lerners door, but by the same token just because the manager left two years ago doesn't mean the decisions he made aren't still affecting the club and will continue to affect the club. Such a complete foul up was made of the finances that its taken two years to stop the Titanic dead in the water, and probably another two to turn it away from the iceberg.

My reasoning is yes, Lerner shouldn't have allowed MON to spend so much, but then you have to ask why? Either Lerner is a complete fuckwit with money, has no concept of profit and loss, and just gave MON money willy-nilly, OR he was made promises on what the spending would achieve and when. as soon as it became obvious that the CL target wasn't going to be met he reigned in the spending and MON walked. I'd say the latter is more likely.

I'd say that Lerner shouldn't have allowed Faulkner to sign the cheques and agree contracts with agents on O'Neills behalf, and a more qualified person be put in charge of such negotiations.

O'Neill shouldn't have chosen Beye and Heskey as his targets, regardless who was agreeing the contracts.

I beleive it is Faulkner who has saddled the club with the big contracts, not O'Neill.

Although, it's easier to beleive it was O'Neill, as the way he left left a bitter taste.