Bernstein and King Resign from the Board

[Chico Hamilton III]

I'm fairly certain the actions of our longest serving player have nothing to do with their resignations. As soon as I saw Lerner's mate was back alarm bells started ringing, the appointments of King, Bernstein, Little and Bevington were a huge step in the right direction, the return of the General was a massive step back.

It was obvious as soon as Krulak returned like the Prodigal Son that Lerner ( or his mother, who controls the money now, I'm told) was still pulling the strings, whatever Hollis's title. A proper fucking cowboy outfit with a mad military nutcase running the drill. Any other club and this would be hilarious.

[Billy Walker]

As far as I can see this has nothing at all to do with Gabby Agbonlahor.  The wording of both King and Bernstein's statements is damning of one Randy Lerner.  I think they have deliberately - and quite rightly - put the focus on him and have suggested Villa will not recover in any sense for as long as he is associated with the Club.  King, especially, is telling Lerner in no uncertain terms to sell up. 
What Gabby did is a total side-issue to yesterday's resignations and I'm sure Lerner is counting his lucky stars that this little story has come out just as he is being publicly shamed by two men of the stature of King and Bernstein.  The focus needs to remain on Lerner, he needs to be hounded out be it through merchandise and season ticket boycotts, protests or whatever.  The cultural, operational poison at the Club is all trickling down from this total f#ckwit. (Which, in a far more polite vernacular, was what King and Bernstein were expressing yesterday in their letters.)

[PeterWithe]

The key phrase for me in King's statement is "change the culture" - King and Bernstein wanted to do that and Randy stopped them...

Which in my view links it to the Gabby thing.

I think that's a red herring. Even if player disclipline was one of the things the new board recommended be dealt with, Gabby's latest pig-ignorant shenanigans happened too soon after they reported for it to have been the deciding factor. There would have to be a time frame for "changing the culture" and I can't believe that this one incident (and hardly a surprising incident, at that) would have scuppered everything else in the report.

Its been reported that he is the main poison in the dressing room. If they wanted him out at any cost then the Dubai, London and fitness things gave them an opportunity, if Lerner wouldn't let them take it then I'd see that as a strong point of principle to go over.

I can't really think of a reason for Lerner to refuse.

He's out of touch, he might think Gabby is still the fans favourite he was when he was last here.
He might think the new manager might be able to get him fit and playing, and hence save the cost of paying up his contract.
He might think other clubs will come in for Gabby at seasons end and save him the coast of paying up his contract
He might think Gabby will do an Elvis, expire on his toilet after shooting up his TV, and save the cost of paying up his contract.

There would be a cost to getting rid of him, King/Bernstein balanced the cost against the benefit and accepted it, Lerner didn't.

It might not be the truth but I think its plausible and more likely than a fall out over a manager given the mention of 'no compromise'. A new team manager was always going to involve a degree of compromise, getting rid of the bad eggs wasn't.

Maybe.

[Dave Cooper please]

that big fat bloke managing Leeds would still probably come,
he don't mid wading in shit

People talk about last straws and what it would take to stop supporting your club, and they hardly ever really mean it, after all a football club is for life and all that.
But if that corrupt ****** Steve Evans ever became connected in any way to Aston Villa I would finish with them right there and then.

[not3bad]

The wording of both King and Bernstein's statements is damning of one Randy Lerner.  I think they have deliberately - and quite rightly - put the focus on him and have suggested Villa will not recover in any sense for as long as he is associated with the Club.  King, especially, is telling Lerner in no uncertain terms to sell up.  yesterday in their letters.)

And Lerner might agree with him for 5 minutes. Then he'll change his mind again and get someone to issue a statement that "Randy has rediscovered his passion for Villa." That'll be his mindset for at least another 5 minutes.

[Ads]

If Lerner has not agreed to fund the change in direction, be it for a new manager and new structure [head of football or whoever], sacking Reily etc, then the only glimmer of hope would be a change of ownership.

Lerner is a fool easily parted with his money; he paid Small Heath £5 million for McLiesh and has gone through managers like underwear the past 12 months, so it would seem odd that he decides to turn the tap off completely having presumably acquiesced to the moves forward suggested by Hollis. Why stop now? For what ends?

Its hard to fathom his motives and it could well be that reference to new ownership is simply misdirection.

But if we're up for sale at a reduced price, then he might have come to his senses. Getting him out of the football club by fair means or foul has to be the number one priority, as he is a disease that is rotting us from the inside out.

I want the new manager to have an ambitious owner, who is back by the board to do what is necessary. McLiesh, Lambert, Sherwood, Garde etc, as poor as they may be, were all made poorer by having one and sometimes both hands tied behind their back. We need unity.

 

[Chris Jameson]

I'm fairly certain the actions of our longest serving player have nothing to do with their resignations. As soon as I saw Lerner's mate was back alarm bells started ringing, the appointments of King, Bernstein, Little and Bevington were a huge step in the right direction, the return of the General was a massive step back.

It was obvious as soon as Krulak returned like the Prodigal Son that Lerner ( or his mother, who controls the money now, I'm told) was still pulling the strings, whatever Hollis's title. A proper fucking cowboy outfit with a mad military nutcase running the drill. Any other club and this would be hilarious.

Careful Chico or you'll have his son telling you to go support somebody else.

[eddiemunster]

Just heard that the club has been sold to















K-Tel.....

They are adept at selling totally useless crap for big money.....


Should be no problem for them to offload the dross that is our first team squad then!!!

[peter w]

I find Bernstein's use of the word "grapple" interesting as well. I think he saying that we are going to struggle with what is happening there. Also, that the letters have been allowed to be published shows that they are trying to heap the pressure on lerner. More than staying on the board they have probably decided that the best way for them to act for Villa right now is to try and oust him by outing him.

As for krulak I doubt that he is the problem. Lerner is the problem and Krulak is only there to remind them what Lerner wants and what he will accept. He is the mouthpiece so no point being peed off with him.

Look, Lerner, Krulak, Pelty, whoever I really do think that you came here with honourable intentions. Really do. But it went wrong and it's got to the point now that this will become poisonous more and more and the mismanagement is killing the club Lerner professes to love. For the love of Villa please go and take every bit of of your unwelcome presence with you. Thanks for your efforts and for what you did do right and tried to do right but come on, this is now like a failed relationship where one partner just can't let go. The games up. Move on. Please.

[PeterWithe]

What is the point of putting those letters of resignation out in the public. Is there anybody left inside Aston Villa with some dignity?

If you want those letters out there then just tell the whole fuckin story you quitters

They were protecting their professional integrity and pointing the finger of blame. I'm glad they did it.

[DB]

If Lerner has not agreed to fund the change in direction, be it for a new manager and new structure [head of football or whoever], sacking Reily etc, then the only glimmer of hope would be a change of ownership.

Lerner is a fool easily parted with his money; he paid Small Heath £5 million for McLiesh and has gone through managers like underwear the past 12 months, so it would seem odd that he decides to turn the tap off completely having presumably acquiesced to the moves forward suggested by Hollis. Why stop now? For what ends?

Its hard to fathom his motives and it could well be that reference to new ownership is simply misdirection.

But if we're up for sale at a reduced price, then he might have come to his senses. Getting him out of the football club by fair means or foul has to be the number one priority, as he is a disease that is rotting us from the inside out.

I want the new manager to have an ambitious owner, who is back by the board to do what is necessary. McLiesh, Lambert, Sherwood, Garde etc, as poor as they may be, were all made poorer by having one and sometimes both hands tied behind their back. We need unity.

 

Yes, all have tried and failed. Some were not good enough but others never stood a chance - or will never know if actually they were any good. Some of the managerial appointments themselves shows a lack of intelligence also. Only Lambert you could say was a right decision - at the time.

[The Edge]

I'm fairly certain the actions of our longest serving player have nothing to do with their resignations. As soon as I saw Lerner's mate was back alarm bells started ringing, the appointments of King, Bernstein, Little and Bevington were a huge step in the right direction, the return of the General was a massive step back.

Well said mate. After appointing Hollis followed by "footballing" men and others with vast business acumen why on earth would you re-appoint Krulak? Other than him being Randys boardroom snitch what could he possibly add to the board that had been assembled? This is incompetence on a biblical scale. Our club is being run into the ground by world class fuckwits.

[cdward]

A new manager was ready to be appointed reporting directly to Bernstein, the appointment was blocked, and Bernstein walked.
So how do we appoint a manager now?
Unless we are sold very quickly, we are f***ed.

 

[The Edge]

A new manager was ready to be appointed reporting directly to Bernstein, the appointment was blocked, and Bernstein walked.
So how do we appoint a manager now?
Unless we are sold very quickly, we are f***ed.

Why would a new manager report directly to Bernstein? Hollis is the chairman.

[Trinitymiddle]

A new manager was ready to be appointed reporting directly to Bernstein, the appointment was blocked, and Bernstein walked.
So how do we appoint a manager now?
Unless we are sold very quickly, we are f***ed.

 

Sounds about right to me.

Despite Lerner appointing Hollis and releasing a statement at the time declaring he was taking a back seat, the fact that he still signs the cheques, means ultimately Lerner is still in charge.

I'd personally be surprised if Hollis stays now, as King and Bernstein were his appointments, and it leaves his company structure in tatters. Surely no credible replacements will touch this basket case with a barge pole now.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse....