Randy Lerner

[Whiney MacWhineface]

A number of people have been hooting that they want an apology from Lerner, and that's what they've got. Many of those same people are still hooting.

I'm not apologising for Lerner, he's stuffed it up horribly and an apology hasn't miraculously made it all better. But hooters will hoot...

[Jimbo]

He hasn't technically apologised, has he? He only blamed himself.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Hoot

[Tayls_7]

A number of people have been hooting that they want an apology from Lerner, and that's what they've got. Many of those same people are still hooting.

I'm not apologising for Lerner, he's stuffed it up horribly and an apology hasn't miraculously made it all better. But hooters will hoot...

You're right, it is a long awaited apology of sorts but during his reign Villa fans have been treated as an afterthought, the club shrouded in silence. The only real atonement to my satisfaction would have involved more insight. Why have we been allowed to become a shadow of our former selves?

[Jimbo]

Woof

[class-of-82]

Think his worst decision was not to install a top class chief executive to run the club from top to bottom in the form of a Daniel levy type guy at Spurs. Tried to get to involved and it backfired on him with poor decisions.
If he has one more decision to make please just make sure the people you sell us to have the club at heart and know what this club and its history and support is all about.

[Locko]

His statement makes me feel sad. It reads as goodbye. I'm sad for where we are now and the unfulfilled promise if the early days. He's a decent man, what a shame it didn't work out..

I don't get where people get the "he's a decent man" routine from. He shafted the club like we've never been shafted before and it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. How are these the actions of a decent man?

To rephrase he appears to be a decent man. He's made mistakes and they've cost him and us dearly. To say he's shafted the club implies he's acted with malice, whereas I feel he's  bungled every important decision he's had to make. In short he's a bit of dick, well intentioned but a dick nonetheless.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I appreciated the statement. It reads like someone (Maybe the general) told him the fans wanted to hear from him, so he did. This one also reads very much like it was written straight from the heart and in one draft.

I want him to recognize he is at fault, want him to sell and want him to invest on the club to get us promoted. When he writes a note that says exactly that and throws in some memories to remind me he actually supports the club... well, it would be churlish of me not to appreciate it.

[SteveD]

The only two decent appointments he's made since he's been here were recently - and they lasted weeks. He's sounds now like a sulky child who's broken his favourite toy. This statement is pathetic and says nothing, just that he's a self-pitying fool . Much rather we saw his recent email exchange to get a measure of the man and more insight into what the hell is going on.

[eamonn]

How is it a strange time to make a statement? We've just been relegated -he made a statement after the Bolton home defeat under McLeish and also at the end of other seasons.

It may as well be the end of this season as we already know our fate. Even if there was no sale on the horizon, I would expect him to say something apologetic with regard to one of the worst season's in the history of the club.

[saunders_heroes]

The only two decent appointments he's made since he's been here were recently - and they lasted weeks. He's sounds now like a sulky child who's broken his favourite toy. This statement is pathetic and says nothing, just that he's a self-pitying fool . Much rather we saw his recent email exchange to get a measure of the man and more insight into what the hell is going on.

Agreed. The "he's a decent guy" routine bugs me though because he clearly hasn't treated our club and the fans decent over the years. In fact he's humiliated them. He should be treated with the contempt he deserves.

[Pete]

His statement makes me feel sad. It reads as goodbye. I'm sad for where we are now and the unfulfilled promise if the early days. He's a decent man, what a shame it didn't work out..

I don't get where people get the "he's a decent man" routine from. He shafted the club like we've never been shafted before and it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. How are these the actions of a decent man?

A decent man in the same way the characters Laurel and Hardy played were decent? Amiable, well meaning but ultimately incompetent and accident prone.

[Skerra]

Statement means nothing to me. He has no doubt been told several times what was needed but his pig headedness got in the way. Don't forget it's only been in the last couple of days that he's managed to piss off two very important people who, I think, were trying to work hard to remedy our situation as soon as possible. Also, if he could have been bothered to get his arse over here, once in a while, he would have been able to see the problems with the current squad for himself.

So,no, for me the statement cuts no ice and, just endorses my view that, unless this buffoon sells up.I for one will not be renewing my season ticket.

[Chris Jameson]

There's a Lerner parody account on Twitter. Even his parody account isn't any good.

[Witton Warrior]

The Guardian's latest take.

Have to say I agree with most of the comments regarding Lerner.

(Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere.)

You get the owners you deserve?
We must have done a, collectively, very bad thing...