Bernstein and King Resign from the Board

[brian green]

But he said he wanted Keane as his number 2.   Somehow deeply satisfy writing Roy Keane's name and number 2 in the same sentence.

[mr underhill]

Another shit who didn't give a shit.

[oldtimernow]

Here's my stab at why King and Bernstein quit. In his resignation letter Bernstein stated as follows:

"For this new structure work it required all at the Club to accept new disciplines, clear reporting lines and to adhere to the authority delegated to the new football board. Unfortunately it has proved impossible to implement the agreed structure and my position has become untenable"

Along with Garde over the course of the time they have been with us King and specifically Bernstein identified problems at the club. Gabby and his various indiscretions was one of many of the very serious issues. After Dubai Bernstein, in the knowledge that Gabby had signed a new deal still went to Randy and suggested serious disciplinary action. Randy overruled Bernstein and no action was taken. This undermined the whole reason a football board was established. The tension at the club was already at an all time high and then finally relegation was confirmed. Gabby goes out that night and makes an even bigger wanker of himself. Bernstein would have found out about this before the Sun broke the story and again went to Randy to take action, probably firing him. Randy again said no. Bernstein and King quit, the story breaks.

I don't think anything will happen to Gabby now that King and Bernstein have gone.

Unless Randy makes him player manager!

[frank black]

Can't see the board resigning over Gabby, he's nothing really.

[Bestmate]

For the life of me I cannot understand appointing these two men if Lerner was not committed to ending the yes men culture at the club. He has made himself look a total fool again and the club is in deeper crisis than before. I did not think that possible-oh what a fool am I!!

[saunders_heroes]

Can't see the board resigning over Gabby, he's nothing really.

Indeed. You'd have to have a very vivid imagination to suggest 2 big hitters like Bernstein and King would resign over a no-mark like Agbonlahor.
They resigned over Lerner, pure and simple.

[kippaxvilla2]

For the first time in probably 29 years I've got a knot in my stomach over our predicament.  I can't see this ending well on the pitch next season unless we are sold rather quickly.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

What makes me sad is Gabby is a Villa fan.. Joleon Lescott is a Villa fan.. and yet both turn out to be c*nts.

it is well documented that gabby is an arsenal fan, he has never been a villa fan, he never went to vp as a kid

[Locko]

The root cause of the problems and always will be as long as he is here is Lerner. I'll take my chances with just about anyone else now, better the devil you know my arse, we are disappearing down the pan with this guy and Colonel Sanders pulling the strings. The longer he is here the more he retreats in to his reclusive shell and makes even worse decisions. Lerner has to go asap, I'll take anyone over him now.

I've felt this way for a while. I can't conceive that anyone could be worse. And I for one will welcome our new Korean overlords

[oldtimernow]

I reckon the 2 guys wanted Gabby disciplined and sold or got rid of .

Gabby's on the phone to Lerner..."hey boss them dudes is messing' up something real bad an me an the pals is really down cos of dis"

"Don't worry Gabs I'll get the General to sort it for you , oh would you like your contract extending because we are now in that Championship League?" Lerner replies

apologies for not being down with the kids speak.

[pauliewalnuts]

Can't see the board resigning over Gabby, he's nothing really.

Indeed. You'd have to have a very vivid imagination to suggest 2 big hitters like Bernstein and King would resign over a no-mark like Agbonlahor.
They resigned over Lerner, pure and simple.

What does "over Lerner" mean though?

If they wanted to sack Agbonlahor (believable) but Lerner wouldn't sanction it because of the cost of paying off a relatively recent contract (given lerner's aversion to spending money) then that is exactly the sort of matter of principle you'd expect people like that to resign over - why have a board if you don't let them make decisions?

Resigning as an outcome of the Gabby situation would be resigning over Lerner - they wouldn't be doing it because they're angry about his night out, they'd be doing it because Lerner is not doing what he said he would and letting them do their jobs.

[frank black]

Gabby is a 70,s pimp ?? 😄😄

[Villafirst]

Relegation was hard to take, but somehow Bernstein & King going feels worse. The new 'board' gave us long suffering fans a glimmer of hope for the future. I really fear for the future with shit bag Lerner still in control. A total shambles that throws up a new crisis on a daily basis.

[clash city rocker]

It worries me that we could become the next blackpool or Portsmouth.  Black was right about anarchy. It seems rife throughout the club. The good ones at villa park will find a way out and we will be left with the poison that is pulsing through the veins of Aston villa.

[ExiledInRutland]

I've always been intrigued by the phrase 'football board'.  Yes, you could take that as underlining the football history or love of Villa of the new recruits.  But I've always assumed it meant a subset of the full board.  But the new guys wanting to see their vision through presumably wanted the 'football' board to be 'the' board.  I recall seeing Krulak becoming a formal director at the same time as those appointments.  If so, I'm guessing that was to the full board.  And either he or Lerner just simply wouldn't let them make the changes needed.  My optimism was rock bottom until the football board was in place.  I honestly saw it as more important than manager or players... And even owner, if RL fully empowered it.  That was the group that would make the right decisions to get us into shape and bring us back.  If Bernstein and King felt the same, their actions and words would be consistent with a blockage in their ability to act as they deem fit for sustainability sake.  I don't think the specific choice of manager comes into it, other than to show that they didn't have freedom, perhaps.  If you can't plot the course, how can you shape the journey?  Those leaving have gone up in my high estimation but so sad that they felt the need to act with such honour.  I can't see a new owner calling them back and inviting them to see it through.  This was one real chance for Lerner to have done the right thing, even if not for the right reasons.