The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Ozzjim]

Can I just say I know I am in cuckoo land with Lescott and Barry!

[kippaxvilla2]

The Birmingham Mail trying to sell a few papers today!

Oil tycoons are thought to be the most likely new owners of the club
Aston Villa could become the next Manchester City – with oil-rich Arabs tipped to bring the glory days back to Villa Park.

Football finance expert Peter Knowles forecast that Randy Lerner could easily attract bids of between £200 million and £250 million from super-rich investors, desperate to break into the Premier League elite.

The US billionaire put Aston Villa up for sale yesterday following his near £63 million takeover in 2006.

In statement, he said: “I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job.

“I can see now that it is time, if possible, to hand these privileges and responsibilities to the next person or group to take the club forward.’’

Lerner has put the sale of the club in the hands of Bank of America, Merrill Lynch.

There have been no confirmed interested parties, but a number of wealthy Americans have been linked to a possible buyout this summer.


Yet stockbroker Mr Knowles predicted fierce interest in Villa from the oil-rich Middle East. And that could spark a Manchester City-style resurgence – which saw them win the Premier League on Sunday.

“If you have got somebody out there with a pot full of money that really wants to buy a Premier League club and has got the funds to do so, then you can effectively buy the League,’’ said the soccer finance expert.

“I heard that there was a potential American bid but it is far more likely to be from the Far East or the Arabs. The Arabs would be able to pay for it because they have got so much oil money. Or it could be the Far East, Singapore or Malaysia, somewhere like that.

I like Mat Kendrick, he does some good stuff, but really, that is one of the worst articles I've ever seen about Villa.

That "football finance expert" sounds like the sort of people they quote in fake newspaper stories in Viz.

I mean, what kind of level of expertise do you need to have to be able to say things like this:

“If you have got somebody out there with a pot full of money that really wants to buy a Premier League club and has got the funds to do so, then you can effectively buy the League,’’ said the soccer finance expert.

“I heard that there was a potential American bid but it is far more likely to be from the Far East or the Arabs. The Arabs would be able to pay for it because they have got so much oil money. Or it could be the Far East, Singapore or Malaysia, somewhere like that.

So, basically, he's saying North America or the Far East or any country vaguely Arab, or maybe South East Asia.

What precise analysis that is. I am surprised he didn't chuck in "Europe, South America, Africa or possibly other planets as yet to be discovered" just to keep all bases covered.

In other news.  Aston Villa have been put up for sale.  David Cameron is Prime Minister.

[pauliewalnuts]

We do know that when they decide to do things very quietly, they can do it very well.

Look at how they kept the Bent deal quiet.

[adrenachrome]

Express and Star

Vlaar and Delph to get new contracts at Aston Villa

PAUL LAMBERT will be given the go-ahead this week to offer new deals to Ron Vlaar and Fabian Delph.


By: John Wragg
Published: Wed, May 14, 2014

Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is keen to keep both players at the club, even though he is selling up.

Lambert and chief executive Paul Faulkner are being briefed on his plans by Lerner, with a warning that the sale of Villa will take at least two months.

There is no buyer ready to come in after initial interest in the States collapsed some months ago and it could be well into the new season before Lerner agrees a deal.

Both Vlaar and Delph are entering the last years of their contracts and despite the sell off will be offered new long term ones.

Lambert is also into the last year of his deal. There were the beginnings of initial talks about a new contract some while ago, but those have been shelved and Lambert is now uncertain about his future.

Lerner will provide limited transfer funding for the new season, but it will be considerably less than the £20m-plus made available to Lambert in each of his first two seasons.

The failure of some of last summer’s signings, like Alexsandar Tonev and Nicklas Helenius in particular, has also been noted by Lerner who wants them to either be playing or moved on.

Lambert wanted a change of policy from Lerner and a return to some big spending on players to rid Villa of successive years of relegation fighting, but that’s not going to happen.

While Lerner continues to own Aston Villa, there is not a threat of Lambert losing his job, but when a new ownership comes in, he would be likely sacked after two seasons of struggle.

Lambert will have little new in the way of quality players to work with and if the Villa sale is protracted past the ideal time frame of two months, he would face yet another season of struggle.

His stock has already fallen considerably with Villa fans who initially welcomed Lambert and he will be on a hiding to nothing if he can’t improve what is a poor team.

Having listened to what Lerner has to say, and the restrictions on him, Lambert might decide to leave and risk finding himself a new club in the summer, thus plunging Villa into more trouble.

Lambert wanted a change of policy from Lerner and a return to some big spending on players to rid Villa of successive years of relegation fighting, but that’s not going to happen.

While Lerner continues to own Aston Villa, there is not a threat of Lambert losing his job, but when a new ownership comes in, he would be likely sacked after two seasons of struggle.

Lambert will have little new in the way of quality players to work with and if the Villa sale is protracted past the ideal time frame of two months, he would face yet another season of struggle.

His stock has already fallen considerably with Villa fans who initially welcomed Lambert and he will be on a hiding to nothing if he can’t improve what is a poor team.

Having listened to what Lerner has to say, and the restrictions on him, Lambert might decide to leave and risk finding himself a new club in the summer, thus plunging Villa into more trouble.

[Toronto Villa]

I think Randy would be reasonable enough to secure contracts of key players, but i don't see why he would allow a manager who might not be around for much longer any access to transfer funds. If I was looking to buy the club I wouldn't want the current owner making those decisions. I think that Randy wants this done and dusted quickly so he can move on with his life. The money is important I am sure but moving on from this as smoothly as possible will be as important.

[cheltenhamlion]

This bloke knows nothing.

[Toronto Villa]

What are the chances Faulkner and Lambert are both in the US working on their exit strategy and settlements? Because I highly doubt they are going over transfer targets.

[Matt Collins]

I'd be surprised if Delph and vlaar wanted to sign a new contract at the moment - we're in limbo.

Concerning times I think

[Matt Collins]

According to different reporters:

It's basically done (sun)
It's not done at all (Murphy, Kendrick E&S)
It's not done at all and there's a transfer embargo (mirror)
It's not done at all and there's money available (telegraph)

So god knows what's really going on

But I do hope that Charlie wyett's expectations aren't based on outdated info as Percy suggesting

[mr underhill]

why would Randy announce he wants out and then make cash available  players in fees and wages? I know the guy hasn't displayed much commercial acumen in the last eight years, but that really would set the bar at an all time low. The perfect storm's brewing here unless a deal is concluded in the next month or so. Like the Satsuma on another thread, I'm crossing everything hoping for positive news soon. TBAR full of talk of Lambert having resigned after Spuds, but his selflessness was refused.

[Bully2345]

The club has money it would be able to spend and stay within parameters with the tv money. Randy may not be the spending merchant he started out as but he's not going to let the club stagnate completely. He's a good guy. The big decision is about the manager, not about making money available. Remember the last accounts were described as having stopped the bleeding. We're in a better place than we were last summer, bizarre as it sounds

[silhillvilla]

Lescott and Barry's wages would be £10m per annum between them. Simply not happening.

Next significant move will be Lambert leaving one way or t'other .

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I've just been past the airport on the train and can categorically announce that I saw a plane land.

Draw your own conclusions but I think the deal is on.

BREAKING NEWS                                                                                                                                  BREAKING NEWS                                                                                                YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
A dramatic update on this ITK:

I've just been past the airport on the train and I can exclusively reveal that I've just seen a plane take off.

It looks like the deal is all over. I just don't know what to say, I'm so sorry.

As soon as I hear any more, I'll let you know.

[LeeB]

I've just been past the airport on the train and can categorically announce that I saw a plane land.

Draw your own conclusions but I think the deal is on.

BREAKING NEWS                                                                                                                                  BREAKING NEWS                                                                                                YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
A dramatic update on this ITK:

I've just been past the airport on the train and I can exclusively reveal that I've just seen a plane take off.

It looks like the deal is all over. I just don't know what to say, I'm so sorry.

As soon as I hear any more, I'll let you know.

We'll I live by the airport, and I've seen and heard several planes coming and going this morning.

This can only mean there are more interested parties, and on one plane I could clearly see the name 'Thomson', which must be the private plane of some super-wealthy yank with questionable facial hair.

[brian green]

Not from where I am looking we are not. We are in a dreadful position while the uncertainty persists. To me the placing of the club in limbo land is as bad a cock up as any perpetrated in the last four years. If this vacuum is filled quickly and satisfactorily no lasting harm will have been done. If on the other hand it drags on in secrecy and confusion it is their masterpiece of foot shooting.