The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[john e]

Lerners decision making and transfer policy since 2010 has nearly relegated us on several occasions. Appointing McLeish/ Lambert? The 'bomb' squad which included N'Zogbia, Hutton? Lambert's 4 year contract? I could go on....

Just a couple of things to mention:

- Lambert was the popular choice of the Villa support

- The bomb squad was part of Lambert's strategy to get rid of the high earner's. It was not Lerner's decision

The bomb squad is the stick we use to beat Lerner/Lambert, we are only talking about one player turning it around here, Alan Hutton
There wasn't a whole load of players that are now integrated into the team that wernt playing because of bad management

The rest of them were absolute useless money grabbing wasters

[Percy McCarthy]

Lerners decision making and transfer policy since 2010 has nearly relegated us on several occasions. Appointing McLeish/ Lambert? The 'bomb' squad which included N'Zogbia, Hutton? Lambert's 4 year contract? I could go on....

His decision making skills regarding football matters and his dedication to the club are simply diabolical. However, his stubborn asking price is a good tactic to keep unqualified/dangerous potential buyers away. I'm sure he'll sell to another American, which is fine with me if they are fully committed and realize the magnitude of the Premier League. He's not going to sell to someone with a tighter wallet then himself, and I believe Randy truly wants to be remembered positively given his scarred reputation of ownership in the states. I think the Phoenix link will be it, with a a big face at the forefront and multiple investors pumping the money in.

What's the Pheonix link, and why do you think that will be it?

[john e]

Lerners decision making and transfer policy since 2010 has nearly relegated us on several occasions. Appointing McLeish/ Lambert? The 'bomb' squad which included N'Zogbia, Hutton? Lambert's 4 year contract? I could go on....

His decision making skills regarding football matters and his dedication to the club are simply diabolical. However, his stubborn asking price is a good tactic to keep unqualified/dangerous potential buyers away. I'm sure he'll sell to another American, which is fine with me if they are fully committed and realize the magnitude of the Premier League. He's not going to sell to someone with a tighter wallet then himself, and I believe Randy truly wants to be remembered positively given his scarred reputation of ownership in the states. I think the Phoenix link will be it, with a a big face at the forefront and multiple investors pumping the money in.

What's the Pheonix link, and why do you think that will be it?

Peter Kay he's got pots of money

[godzvilla]

Lerners decision making and transfer policy since 2010 has nearly relegated us on several occasions. Appointing McLeish/ Lambert? The 'bomb' squad which included N'Zogbia, Hutton? Lambert's 4 year contract? I could go on....

His decision making skills regarding football matters and his dedication to the club are simply diabolical. However, his stubborn asking price is a good tactic to keep unqualified/dangerous potential buyers away. I'm sure he'll sell to another American, which is fine with me if they are fully committed and realize the magnitude of the Premier League. He's not going to sell to someone with a tighter wallet then himself, and I believe Randy truly wants to be remembered positively given his scarred reputation of ownership in the states. I think the Phoenix link will be it, with a a big face at the forefront and multiple investors pumping the money in.

What's the Pheonix link, and why do you think that will be it?

Re 'PHOENIX GROUP' (http://www.thephoenixgroup.com/)  there appears to be strong Birmingham presence, they have offices in Wythall and on Chester St (Google/ Phoenix Group UK - Birmingham).
Perhaps the more Corporate minded among you could shed more light (?), either way, they appear to be a major Global Company with 57billion pounds in assets so 150 million for us would be a proverbial 'drop in the Ocean' ...........Godzvilla!

[CT Villan]

Thanks for the link GV.

In looking at their website I am struggling to see why they would want to buy us other than as an investment that they believe will grow significantly in value and we all know how that usually works out ! They are a closed life assurance company and the 'closed' is key because I think that means that they do not sell new policies, only manage existing ones, so they are not looking to increase brand awareness and drive retail sales. Maybe they want to re-enter the retail market ? Maybe they think the new tv money will increase value, or maybe I'm talking bollocks.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I thought the same. I doubt it is them as the Telegraph article refers to a "consortium" which obviously they're not.

Potential sponsors? Absolutely.

[The Left Side]

All this talk of Tom Fox and his influence at the club got me thinking of the kit deal, I think the Macron deal is up at the end of the season so as anyone heard any news about who we are getting? I guess that would depend on which league we will be playing in next season.

[ChicagoLion]

Lerners decision making and transfer policy since 2010 has nearly relegated us on several occasions. Appointing McLeish/ Lambert? The 'bomb' squad which included N'Zogbia, Hutton? Lambert's 4 year contract? I could go on....

His decision making skills regarding football matters and his dedication to the club are simply diabolical. However, his stubborn asking price is a good tactic to keep unqualified/dangerous potential buyers away. I'm sure he'll sell to another American, which is fine with me if they are fully committed and realize the magnitude of the Premier League. He's not going to sell to someone with a tighter wallet then himself, and I believe Randy truly wants to be remembered positively given his scarred reputation of ownership in the states. I think the Phoenix link will be it, with a a big face at the forefront and multiple investors pumping the money in.

What's the Pheonix link, and why do you think that will be it?

Re 'PHOENIX GROUP' (http://www.thephoenixgroup.com/)  there appears to be strong Birmingham presence, they have offices in Wythall and on Chester St (Google/ Phoenix Group UK - Birmingham).
Perhaps the more Corporate minded among you could shed more light (?), either way, they appear to be a major Global Company with 57billion pounds in assets so 150 million for us would be a proverbial 'drop in the Ocean' ...........Godzvilla!

There is no way that they would or could invest in a Football Club.

[Walters Flat top]

All this talk of Tom Fox and his influence at the club got me thinking of the kit deal, I think the Macron deal is up at the end of the season so as anyone heard any news about who we are getting? I guess that would depend on which league we will be playing in next season.

I believe our kit deal with Macron runs until May 2016.

[OCD]

Whenever the Macron deal does run out, I wouldn't be surprised if Puma made our kits after. Fox must have played a big part in Arsenal's negotiations with them and he will have a lot of contacts there.

[Quiet Lion]

There is no way that they would or could invest in a Football Club.

Yep, no way that a listed company whose main business is in buying UK insurance companies and running them as a closed book operation is not going to buy a Premier League club. No way not ever, it just couldn't happen.
Though the thought of that group in particular trying to explain to shareholders and their non executive directors why the purchase a football club would be a good idea amuses me.
The Phoenix Group we were linked with was not that one but a private US investment firm that specialises in buying distressed assets (that's us) and flipping them for a profit.

[Boz]

If the football style stays the same and we have the same passion from the players I couldn't give a monkeys what is happening with the ownership

How any villa fan could conclude that the ownership is irrelevant after the last few years is extraordinary!!!

Absolutely. I with many others have been critical of Lerner, but I still believe he wants the best for Villa when he passes it on and therefore will need to be sure a new owner is a stable one and not a Hong Kong barber.

[brian green]

I hear on the grapevine that the owners of the Bartons are, allegedly, not very happy with the pub.   Fantasy thought just to cheer us up in these stressful times, perhaps a new owner could embrace it like Randy embraced The Holte.

[wozwebs]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-sale-uk-based-group-5419185

[Steve67]

Let's hope it's true eh? Concentrate on survival first though. If this goes through, I wonder how many would like Sherwood to stay on? I would, unless the likes of Benitez or Ancellotti are available!!