The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Steve67]

I guess you're right Steve, on two counts. Doug has never actually been able to leave the club. And Randy being in America means he doesn't have to worry too much about a fans backlash.

[kippaxvilla2]

If that was true, that it really has only been a week, then why on earth make a song and dance of announcing it, and making yourself look desperate to sell?

He's spent eight years not saying things to the fans, why would he stop being that way now?

This is his MO'N moment.

[john2710]

Have I missed something but when did the club say they were not renewing players contracts?

Vlar is away with Holland, Delph most likely on holiday. Nothing of any note will be done in the next 6-8 weeks, especially as Lerner tries to find a buyer.

I understand people's impatience & concerns but people need to calm the fuck down.

[Bully2345]

Have I missed something but when did the club say they were not renewing players contracts?

Vlar is away with Holland, Delph most likely on holiday. Nothing of any note will be done in the next 6-8 weeks, especially as Lerner tries to find a buyer.

I understand people's impatience & concerns but people need to calm the fuck down.

A voice of sanity is the last thing we need right now. Let's panic some more

[The Left Side]

Bit late to the thread, so what is the story on this Rob Rich then?

[ozzjim]

He is called Rob, and he is Rich.


And he stated a couple of years back he would never buy a premier league club I believe.

[The Left Side]

He is called Rob, and he is Rich.

And he stated a couple of years back he would never buy a premier league club I believe.

Thanks for the update Ozzjim

[ozzjim]

I believe the trees saw his plan land, then leave. So he was here for sure, but whether it was anything to with villa, no idea.

[DB]

Remember what happened at Newcastle...Ashley put the club up for sale a few years back....he is still there. Just sayin like.

[ozzjim]

Oh and he is chairman of the Cleveland Clinic, which if you google is actually the Cleveland Lerner Medical Centre. So there is a link to Lerner being a known associate of his.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I wish I had something to add to this thread but I have nothing.



Nothing.

[Malandro]

I wish I had something to add to this thread but I have nothing.



Nothing.

Let us know when nothing comes to fruition

[Steve R]

I wish I had something to add to this thread but I have nothing.



Nothing.

On the upside, it is a very passable Shirley Bassey impersonation.

[adrenachrome]

Have I missed something but when did the club say they were not renewing players contracts?

Vlar is away with Holland, Delph most likely on holiday. Nothing of any note will be done in the next 6-8 weeks, especially as Lerner tries to find a buyer.

I understand people's impatience & concerns but people need to calm the fuck down.

Good point. I don't think the club have said this is the case, but a piece in The Mirror strongly implied it:

Lambert reckons star striker Christian Benteke – currently injured after surgery on a ruptured Achilles - will not be sold. And he plans to battle to keep Fabian Delph, Ron Vlaar and Gabriel Agbonlahor despite being unable to offer the trio contract extensions.

Villa have made offers to their out of contract players though and Gary Gardner is due to sign a new one-year deal. But Marc Albrighton is set to snub fresh terms and sign for promoted Leicester on a Bosman.

Lambert is also looking for two new assistants, with the exits of Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa due to be rubber-stamped.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-plot-darren-bent-transfer-3577660#ixzz32IcDN85W

and hot off the virtual presses:

Daily Express

Paul Lambert DESPERATE to keep Aston Villa's stars as Randy Lerner caps spending

ASTON VILLA have insisted there will be no firesale of their top players while the club is in limbo.


By: John Wragg
Published: Thu, May 22, 2014

Manager Paul Lambert will have little scope to buy new players as owner Randy Lerner puts a lid on spending.

But that doesn't mean Lerner will cash in on prize assets Christian Benteke, Ron Vlaar, Fabian Delph, Ashley Westwood and Brad Guzan.

Vlaar and Delph are in the last year of their contracts, as is Lambert himself, but all new deals are on hold.

Lambert will get a maximum of £15million in transfer money and Lerner would like some of that offset by sales. But Lambert is adamant that if anyone leaves Villa it will be only fringe players.

Marc Albrighton is an early target for Sunderland and Leicester and Newcastle are looking at Darren Bent, deals Lambert will do if interest is firmed up.

"Everything is open because the club is for sale but I'll still have the final say with who comes and goes," said Lambert. "I don't visualise anyone leaving without my permission."

Lambert hopes to persuade Lerner to up the wage ceiling to allow him to bring in bigger name free transfer players.

"Up until the club is sold it's going to need everyone to pull in the same direction. That's vital, to get your sleeves rolled up and meet that challenge," said Lambert. "It's going to be really, really tough but you keep going."

Villa will get £70m in TV money, but Lambert says that won't help his budget.

"It doesn't work like that. Finances go to different places, that TV money I'm pretty sure will go to help the club.

"If you're up for sale that's the big statement. Everyone is clear on what's happening and it's up to me to go and get players that this club deserves.

"If the club had been relegated, plus gone up for sale, I wouldn't want to imagine what it would have been like."

Lambert was told months in advance by Lerner that he was intending to sell but had to keep it private until the official announcement.

"It was my job to protect the club, that's what I did," said Lambert. "How did I feel when I went over to New York at the weekend to speak with Randy Lerner? Tired. It had all been on my shoulders, all the problems of the season, I had to protect everything and I did that.

"Even if we were to get off to a flyer to the new season, I don't think it would change Randy Lerner's mind about selling. The chairman has been great and honest but I don't think it'll change his mind.

"With regard to selling players, Randy will let me decide. You have to understand and respect his good work here. That shouldn't be overlooked. But you have to respect he wants to do his own thing.

"When the new owners come in they will judge what I've done with their own eyes.

"I've never been one to be self-centred. The most important thing is this club. All I can do is my best. It's really unsettling but it is what it is. You can't change it.

"I'm relieved it's out there, I knew what was happening but my job was to protect everything.

"I don't regret anything. If it all ended tomorrow you would take an unbelievable experience. The pressure is big, but there's always something good to come out of it and Aston Villa can be big again."

[kippaxvilla2]

After reading that I've got nothing but sympathy for the bloke.