Riley - When Will It Happen

[AVH87]

We want him out, Paddy Riley out
I just don't think you understand..

[Percy McCarthy]

It's nearly time.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paddy-riley-set-aston-villa-11376499?

Who will replace him?

If the changing room photo with the names on the back of the shirts was genuine, there is one that has not been mentioned in recent comments.  It looked like Cook.  Could it be Garry Cook, ex Man City.

He wasn't a scout though was he?

I thought he headed up player recruitment.

I thought he was CEO. He came to Man City from Nike and went to UFC, so I doubt he's a scout for either of those.

[Chris Smith]

It's nearly time.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paddy-riley-set-aston-villa-11376499?

Who will replace him?

If the changing room photo with the names on the back of the shirts was genuine, there is one that has not been mentioned in recent comments.  It looked like Cook.  Could it be Garry Cook, ex Man City.

He wasn't a scout though was he?

I thought he headed up player recruitment.

I thought he was CEO. He came to Man City from Nike and went to UFC, so I doubt he's a scout for either of those.

He was definitely from a commercial background and had no scouting involvement at Man City. We got hospitality tickets through him when we played up there a few years back, he's an old school friend of a good mate of mine. I know his public persona isn't great but he seemed alright to me.

[SoccerHQ]

Yes Cook was certainly CEO at Man. City.

[adrenachrome]

Torygraph

Aston Villa new owner lines up Roberto Di Matteo and prepares to sack scouting staff

  Neil Connor, in Beijing

24 May 2016 • 10:13pm

Aston Villa’s deeply unpopular scouting team are to be the first casualties of sweeping changes at the relegated club, incoming owner Tony Xia said, as he outlined why Roberto Di Matteo has the credentials to take the team forward.

Di Matteo is widely expected to be named the new Villa manager before the end of the week, but while Xia spoke of how the Italian was the ideal man for the job, he ­refused to say whether a deal had already been agreed.

He was more direct, however, on the subject of Villa’s head of recruitment, Paddy Riley, and his scouting team, who have been widely blamed for a dismal season which saw only three games won by the ­Premier League’s bottom club.

“I think a lot of Villa fans will agree that one thing we have to make much stronger is the scouting team,” he said.

“I think, more or less, the scouting team they had before, they have to take a lot of responsibility.” Asked whether the Villa Park scouts would be dismissed, he replied that there would be “new ones”. Xia also said that he had no plans to rename Villa Park, and strongly denied reports that he was to name it after one of his companies.

He also spoke about how Di Matteo had emerged as the strongest candidate for the managerial position after David Moyes withdrew from the race on Monday.

Former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson and Di Matteo were both being considered because they had experience gaining promotion from the Championship, Xia said.

Di Matteo had emerged as the ­favourite as he had more experience in the Premier League. More importantly, the Champions League-winning manager could also help the Chinese businessman achieve his dream of raising Villa’s international profile

“That is maybe the reason that a lot of people say that I am favouring Di Matteo,” he said.

Xia, who was speaking at the head office of his Recon Group business empire in Beijing, said he was also looking forward to taking formal control at Villa.

He said there was “no reason” that he would fail a 'directors’ test’ currently being undertaken by the Premier League and the Football League. “I think there is no way, and not any excuse, that they should turn me down because I am a person who is doing everything legally,” he said.

“I am enthusiastic for the club and I will devote myself to it and I am responsible to take it over. There is no reason they will disapprove of that.”

Xia’s background had come ­under scrutiny after he was named as the prospective owner for Villa, particularly over allegations that he had fabricated his academic record.

But the Harvard graduate said it was “insane” that such accusations were made.

He said the episode, which blew up in the Chinese media several years ago, had caused him to maintain his privacy – and was one of the reasons why his wealth is not as ­visible as many of China’s business elite.

Xia occasionally revealed a shy, edgy side as he repeatedly refused to put a figure on how much he is worth, saying the only thing that was important was that he is wealthy enough to be a “responsible” owner for Villa.

He had also attracted attention in the media over his political connections, which he said he developed by advising scores of city mayors across China on planning projects.

“I do have a very good personal connections with all the government officials,” he said.

“But one thing for me, I never get too close with the politics or politicians. I get all my business just by very healthy and legal ways.”

Despite his apparent unease with the media, the 41-year-old said he agreed to speak to the press in ­recent days as he understands Villa fans and the football world want to know about his plans, which ­include wanting to replicate Villa’s 1982 European Cup success.

[Richard E]

Yes Cook was certainly CEO at Man. City.

Didn't they fall out with him after he allegedly sent Nedum Onuha's mom offensive emails about her cancer?

[Edvard Remberg]

Torygraph

Aston Villa new owner lines up Roberto Di Matteo and prepares to sack scouting staff

  Neil Connor, in Beijing

24 May 2016 • 10:13pm

Aston Villa’s deeply unpopular scouting team are to be the first casualties of sweeping changes at the relegated club, incoming owner Tony Xia said, as he outlined why Roberto Di Matteo has the credentials to take the team forward.

Di Matteo is widely expected to be named the new Villa manager before the end of the week, but while Xia spoke of how the Italian was the ideal man for the job, he ­refused to say whether a deal had already been agreed.

He was more direct, however, on the subject of Villa’s head of recruitment, Paddy Riley, and his scouting team, who have been widely blamed for a dismal season which saw only three games won by the ­Premier League’s bottom club.

“I think a lot of Villa fans will agree that one thing we have to make much stronger is the scouting team,” he said.

“I think, more or less, the scouting team they had before, they have to take a lot of responsibility.” Asked whether the Villa Park scouts would be dismissed, he replied that there would be “new ones”. Xia also said that he had no plans to rename Villa Park, and strongly denied reports that he was to name it after one of his companies.

He also spoke about how Di Matteo had emerged as the strongest candidate for the managerial position after David Moyes withdrew from the race on Monday.

Former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson and Di Matteo were both being considered because they had experience gaining promotion from the Championship, Xia said.

Di Matteo had emerged as the ­favourite as he had more experience in the Premier League. More importantly, the Champions League-winning manager could also help the Chinese businessman achieve his dream of raising Villa’s international profile

“That is maybe the reason that a lot of people say that I am favouring Di Matteo,” he said.

Xia, who was speaking at the head office of his Recon Group business empire in Beijing, said he was also looking forward to taking formal control at Villa.

He said there was “no reason” that he would fail a 'directors’ test’ currently being undertaken by the Premier League and the Football League. “I think there is no way, and not any excuse, that they should turn me down because I am a person who is doing everything legally,” he said.

“I am enthusiastic for the club and I will devote myself to it and I am responsible to take it over. There is no reason they will disapprove of that.”

Xia’s background had come ­under scrutiny after he was named as the prospective owner for Villa, particularly over allegations that he had fabricated his academic record.

But the Harvard graduate said it was “insane” that such accusations were made.

He said the episode, which blew up in the Chinese media several years ago, had caused him to maintain his privacy – and was one of the reasons why his wealth is not as ­visible as many of China’s business elite.

Xia occasionally revealed a shy, edgy side as he repeatedly refused to put a figure on how much he is worth, saying the only thing that was important was that he is wealthy enough to be a “responsible” owner for Villa.

He had also attracted attention in the media over his political connections, which he said he developed by advising scores of city mayors across China on planning projects.

“I do have a very good personal connections with all the government officials,” he said.

“But one thing for me, I never get too close with the politics or politicians. I get all my business just by very healthy and legal ways.”

Despite his apparent unease with the media, the 41-year-old said he agreed to speak to the press in ­recent days as he understands Villa fans and the football world want to know about his plans, which ­include wanting to replicate Villa’s 1982 European Cup success.

I totally understand his wish for privacy and not all in public.

[The Left Side]

Not sure if it is the same Neil Connor reporting that used to work for the Meaning Evil in Brum but if it is, he is a big Villa fan and moved to China a few years ago, there can't be that many out there.

[Duncan Shaw]

Good article, and the Torygraph changing it's tune somewhat!

[The Left Side]

Not sure if it is the same Neil Connor reporting that used to work for the Meaning Evil in Brum but if it is, he is a big Villa fan and moved to China a few years ago, there can't be that many out there.

I just checked and it is him, he might even be a lurker on here!

[kippaxvilla2]

Well I'm going to give our Tone a fair crack of the whip.  Let's see what he can do.

[b23]

Soon. Very soon.

Before 5.6.16.

[Hookeysmith]

Soon. Very soon.

Before 5.6.16.

That's a bit cryptic

What is?

[b23]

Soon. Very soon.

Before 5.6.16.

That's a bit cryptic

What is?

Riley going. Gone before next Friday is my guess.

[Louzie0]

Soon. Very soon.

Before 5.6.16.

That's a bit cryptic

What is?

Riley going. Gone before next Friday is my guess.

Hallo, Neil!