Remi- It has happened.

[Chris Harte]

Every season ticket holder would be well within their rights to ask for their money back if that Telegraph article is true.  I want Lerner to stop hiding and come out and apologise for the mess he has created and I want him to apologise, on behalf of the good name of Aston Villa, to Remi Garde.

I'm not holding my breath on any of that. I'm just open-mouthed at that article. Bundesliga scout living in Australia? January targets not even approached? If true, then Garde has been shafted more than any of us had ever imagined.

[Ad@m]

If Lerner had tried to deliberately destroy the club I don't think he'd have managed it as well as this. 

I wonder how SGT would compare the shambles he found in 1987 to what we've become.

[eamonn]

Disappointing to read about Simon Ward being distracted with study instead of scouting. He always comes across as professional on Heroes Discussion.

[pauliewalnuts]

If Lerner had tried to deliberately destroy the club I don't think he'd have managed it as well as this. 

Indeed

This entire shambles reflects awfully on him and his 'stewardship'.

That he allowed this utter farce to develop is absolutely shameful - if he has any pride whatsoever he should be thoroughly embarrassed for the last few years and these latest revelations especially 

[UK Redsox]

if this bit is true, things have gone beyond poor organisation and incompetence into the realms of lying and arse-covering

Garde’s relationship with Riley has completely broken down and the pair are barely on speaking terms. It is also alleged that Garde was told January targets did not want to move to Villa – only for Garde then to speak to the players directly and discover they had never been contacted.

[passport1]

Blue in the face stating this now but until Lerner is gone this fuckfest will continue. There is no point saying be careful what you wish for since he has turned the club into an absolute shambles.

[OzVilla]

if this bit is true, things have gone beyond poor organisation and incompetence into the realms of lying and arse-covering

Garde’s relationship with Riley has completely broken down and the pair are barely on speaking terms. It is also alleged that Garde was told January targets did not want to move to Villa – only for Garde then to speak to the players directly and discover they had never been contacted.

If true, how on McGraths earth is this idiot PR still at the club.

[Jimbo]

The only constant with Lerner is negligence and sheer incompetence, so while it disgusts me, this news doesn't surprise me. I hope to McGrath the new board can sort it out, but I won't hold my breath. The club at every level has become a mirror image of its owner, detached from any reality or responsibility. 

[itbrvilla]

What a fucking disgrace. ****** the lots of them. Well done to the new board identifying these serious issues so quickly.

[Steve67]

One question unanswered for me. If Garde spoke directly to those players, had they already moved elsewhere or did they still refuse to come to Villa.  Garde himself said that players didn't want to join our club because of the desperate situation that we are in, so other than assist us with identifying what we already knew, that Reilly is useless, has this news article really moved us any further forward?

[OzVilla]

Well it certainly addresses a culture of gross incompetence bordering on sabotage if nothing else.

[DB]

if this bit is true, things have gone beyond poor organisation and incompetence into the realms of lying and arse-covering

Garde’s relationship with Riley has completely broken down and the pair are barely on speaking terms. It is also alleged that Garde was told January targets did not want to move to Villa – only for Garde then to speak to the players directly and discover they had never been contacted.

If true, how on McGraths earth is this idiot PR still at the club.

How can you let it get to that Lerner? If true the bloke cannot be trusted to run a tap.

[Clampy]

One question unanswered for me. If Garde spoke directly to those players, had they already moved elsewhere or did they still refuse to come to Villa.  Garde himself said that players didn't want to join our club because of the desperate situation that we are in, so other than assist us with identifying what we already knew, that Reilly is useless, has this news article really moved us any further forward?

Garde did say that he spoke to the striker who decided to choose Newcastle in the end.

[Nastylee]

Has said striker played for Newcastle yet?

[Clampy]

Has said striker played for Newcastle yet?

It was Doumbia and he's played for Newcastle once since he's been there.