Bernstein and King Resign from the Board

[nick harper]

if the club is to be sold soon

New club new board

and that's the top and bottom of it

But why, as fans of the club, would they resign in such dramatic fashion?  If it was due to a sale they would wait for it to happen and step down gracefully with a job well done as some sheikh pumps a billion quid into the club.

I don't know mate

probably feel they had been bought in to do a job then Randy finds someone interested and everything's put on hold, you can't work like that so they resigned

one thing is for certain they are talking to an interested buyer they have confirmed it, that's the biggest news in that statement if it comes off

the buyer might be a right chump, but hey people want rid of Lerner do get there wish

The key comment is in Bernstein's letter. There were football related decisions that he thought he had the autonomy to make given the structure put in place and that has been compromised - ie Lerner has overruled. That must be a financial decision as I don't think Lerner's interest in the club extends any further than that.

[PeterWithe]

probably feel they had been bought in to do a job then Randy finds someone interested and everything's put on hold, you can't work like that so they resigned

That scenario makes sense although it would have been something that was reasonably foreseeable.

[eric woolban woolban]

Administration looms...

[Ger Regan]

The key comment is in Bernstein's letter. There were football related decisions that he thought he had the autonomy to make given the structure put in place and that has been compromised - ie Lerner has overruled. That must be a financial decision as I don't think Lerner's interest in the club extends any further than that.

King's letter is even more damning than Bernstein's, but it does not appear as if the sale is that far advanced.

[Matt C]

Lord King's note confirms our what we all thought - nothing will change until the owner sells.

[The Left Side]

IBTL

[cheltenhamlion]

Those letters have been deliberately leaked to sling Lerner under the bus. Fuck knows what happens next at circus Villa.

[lordmcgrath5]

Shit. Mervyn King leaving so soon really does worry me. He seems an extremely level-headed guy who wouldn't make a decision such as this on a whim. We've all known for a long time that there are serious, fundamental issues at the club that need addressing urgently. Apart from the obvious, longstanding need for a new owner. But I thought there was some hope of improvement under the new board. These resignations suggest that Lerner's not willing to take quality advice or make any effort to change things. We really are in the shit, aren't we?

[john e]

if the club is to be sold soon

New club new board

and that's the top and bottom of it

But why, as fans of the club, would they resign in such dramatic fashion?  If it was due to a sale they would wait for it to happen and step down gracefully with a job well done as some sheikh pumps a billion quid into the club.

I don't know mate

probably feel they had been bought in to do a job then Randy finds someone interested and everything's put on hold, you can't work like that so they resigned

one thing is for certain they are talking to an interested buyer they have confirmed it, that's the biggest news in that statement if it comes off

the buyer might be a right chump, but hey people want rid of Lerner do get there wish

The key comment is in Bernstein's letter. There were football related decisions that he thought he had the autonomy to make given the structure put in place and that has been compromised - ie Lerner has overruled. That must be a financial decision as I don't think Lerner's interest in the club extends any further than that.

I don't know, you could well be right
I'm just reacting to the bit about the sale

We will see how it plays out over the next few days to see if the sale is on or it's just a ruse

But if there is a buyer then I'm not surprised the new board feel usurped if not like you say we are truly in deep deep fucking shit

[Malandro]

Aston Villa chain of command:

Mumsy

[Brend'Watkins]

I dread to see what c***s this clown will sell us to just to get rid.

Could it be any worse...really?

Having said that, the General did say that when the time was right Randy will be selling to a suitable custodian. So with that knowledge I can sleep easily.

I doubt he cares now he's had 10s of millions wiped of the value of the club.  Look at Leeds, Charlton and Blues owners for example.

I was being sarcastic. 

There's as much chance that Lerner wants Gabby as manager as we're about to be sold.

[chrisw1]

Even TBAR don't have optimistic posts about rich new owners.  No straws to clutch here.

[Dante Lavelli]

I might be being naive here, but how the fuck have the media for hold of those letters? What the fuck is going on?

My guess is that King and Bernstein had no contracts so the usual leverage of "we'll pay up your contract but on the agreement that you cannot talk to the press" is not there.  Therefore they can say what they like.  I don't blame them if they've been messed about by Randy.

[PaulWinch again]

What the fuck is going on?

[Toronto Villa]

My only reaction is fucking hell. I think Ger made the point well that relegation was always coming but his is the worst possible news. A new board/structure/outlook was the silver lining. Unless off course a sale is just around the corner and I'm betting it isn't. What a complete disaster this is.