Randy Lerner

[cdbearsfan]

I can't see why he'd make a statement if a sale was close. He'd presumably make one after a sale goes through anyway so why bother with a pre-statement statement?

[not3bad]

I can't see why he'd make a statement if a sale was close. He'd presumably make one after a sale goes through anyway so why bother with a pre-statement statement?

It wouldn't be the first time he'd got things arse about face.

[old man villa fan]

Not wanting to sound callous or insensitive but why do people keep bringing up the redundancies? Unfortunately, if you are going to choose to work in a volatile industry like football, where a rubber bladder covered in leather hitting a post can mean the difference between 100 odd million pounds then they have to take the rough with the smooth. The redundancies are systematic of the relegation, i dont think he is directly responsible nor should he apologise although i suppose acknowledgement of them wouldnt have gone amiss....

I also think that there would have been some kind of re-structuring whichever division we had been in. The club has been making huge losses for a while now, and realistically there was a need for a full scale review. I accept there may be more going due to relegation, but this happens in any business that cannot sustain the losses we have made.

As for the statement, reading anything into it is impossible. It is complete drivel from a very strange man.

I was staggered when I read the quoted number of employees.  Granted that not all of the part-time match day staff work at the same time and provide a pool but, even so, that is a very high number.  I think it was 185 players and coaches.  I assume that below a certain age (before they sign a professional contract) they are not employees, so I am lost as to how the number is so high.  Do the quoted number of employees actually exist?

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

If he was closing a multi million pound sale I don't think he'd be piping up with that type of statement. I could be wrong but I think he'll be doing his "best to position Villa for the quickest possible return to its rightful place among England's elite" next season. Can't wait. A nagging sense of inevitability has set in.

If he has the slightest intention of doing his "best to position Villa for the quickest possible return to its rightful place among England's elite" Then he should crawl on his hands and knees to beg King and Bernstein to return to the board!

[passport1]

Can someone photoshop Gabby and Lescott on either side of Dupont/Lerner in this - oh and add Villa colours?

When I saw this film I thought there were erie comparisons with our owner.With each passing day I am more convinced.

[Monty]

I can't see why he'd make a statement if a sale was close. He'd presumably make one after a sale goes through anyway so why bother with a pre-statement statement?

Because he's clearly a little nuts. This statement was as weird as the others, Shunnamite or no Shunnamite.

[appyarryampton]

IMO the statement should have read " I was absent when I should have been there, I took no positive steps to rectify the situation, I listened to no-one with the right knowledge, I have ruined two sporting institutions and I have sold the club at a loss to people who actually care. Goodbye."

[SamTheMouse]

There's a very strange tone to the statement.

I genuinely wonder whether he's OK.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Totally bizarre and random statement. Says nothing. Sounds like the ramblings of a slightly drunk man talking to himself at the bar.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

This is a genuine question. Is not straight talking a cultural thing? I thought Brits had an acute sense of embarrassment and an ability to skirt around a subject. But is it an American thing?

[DeKuip]

The statement reinforces the feelings I have on Randy - a warm and genuine human being who'd be a great friend or neighbour. He had all the right intentions but was never the right material to be in charge of top football club in the cut-throat and disloyal world of professional football. Of course the blame lies with him, he's made too many bad decisions and went missing when we most needed a leader.
For everyone's sake a sale needs to go through quickly and to the right people.
If he can sell to the people who can get us back on track we hopefully will be able to think more about Acorns shirts and Ashley Young's goal (plus many other good things) when we walk past the Holte pub in years to come, rather than the current state of things.
It's hard to imagine a situation that can be worse than the recent decline, shit football and job losses - but there are far worse potential owners out there as fans of other clubs have discovered.
Just get this one last decision right please Randy.

[Mostinho II]

He just sounds pathetic. WTF was he thinking buying AVFC?

[Walmley_Villa]

Well according to SSN he is in Birmingham at the moment.....??

My take on it is that his reign has given me a few great highs such as making us feel like a big club again (at least in the first few years), Acorns, acting professionally as a club and European football again. Unfortunately these have been clouded by many lows in the more recent years, bad managers, bad players and worst of all a losing mentality throughout the club resulting in a loss of focus and identity. I think this may be and hopefully a goodbye and a sorry.

[Jon Crofts]

American man baby buys a footballing institution, makes a total cake & arse party of it, writes a half arsed apology, remembers a selfless gesture, a solitary goal and a tactical blunder.

[manic-road]

Well according to SSN he is in Birmingham at the moment.....??

My take on it is that his reign has given me a few great highs such as making us feel like a big club again (at least in the first few years), Acorns, acting professionally as a club and European football again. Unfortunately these have been clouded by many lows in the more recent years, bad managers, bad players and worst of all a losing mentality throughout the club resulting in a loss of focus and identity. I think this may be and hopefully a goodbye and a sorry.

If he is in Birmingham I hope he is saying his goodbyes.