Tony's Tweets

[dave.woodhall]

I think the thing is nobody knows how much he's worth.

So far I like this billionaire versus the one we had previously who ended up being skint because his mum didn’t want him emptying any more of his piggy bank on us. But you’re right. We have no actual idea how much he’s worth.

There are many words that can be used to describe Randy Lerner. 'Skint' isn't one of them.

[pauliewalnuts]

If Tony's business interests are as broad as he suggests, shouldn't he be too busy to be pissing around with Twitter hieroglyphics?!

Do you really believe that? There's lots of people on Twitter and LinkedIn being another one with very busy or high profile jobs who are always posting stuff. If you think Tony is busy on social media, check out someone like Richard Branson. Not your bog standard billionaire like our Tone.

Although Richard Branson is an actual billionaire.

There was a list of the richest people in the Midlands in either today’s or yesterday’s Mail. Xia was listed as being worth £1b.

It's good that the Mail have managed to pierce the levels of obfuscation that cloud Chinese money. I was clearly wrong in thinking they were just a shit website with intrusive ads and click-bait tweets these days.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think the thing is nobody knows how much he's worth.

So far I like this billionaire versus the one we had previously who ended up being skint because his mum didn’t want him emptying any more of his piggy bank on us. But you’re right. We have no actual idea how much he’s worth.

I'll wait till i see some evidence Xia is actually a billionaire before comparing him to other ones.

Lerner had the money and went through a prolonged period of spending (mostly wasting) it. We haven't even seen a set of accounts since Xia took over (although we do know that HSBC have a charge on the club). We have no idea where that money that has been spent has come from.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Put it the other way. Is there ANY evidence Xia isn't exactly who he says he is?

I mean, what more do you want? He isn't going to post his bank account info online. Until someone comes up with a shred of evidence he is something other than a successful businessman who wants to grow the club then I am happy to believe him. We have zero reason to call the man a liar and frankly Villa fans should be the last folks to try and slander the man.

He is going to be with us for some time. He will do plenty of actual things to piss us off over time. Thats football. We don't need to go around making shit up.

[pauliewalnuts]

Put it the other way. Is there ANY evidence Xia isn't exactly who he says he is?

I mean, what more do you want? He isn't going to post his bank account info online. Until someone comes up with a shred of evidence he is something other than a successful businessman who wants to grow the club then I am happy to believe him. We have zero reason to call the man a liar and frankly Villa fans should be the last folks to try and slander the man.

He is going to be with us for some time. He will do plenty of actual things to piss us off over time. Thats football. We don't need to go around making shit up.

"Is there ANY evidence Xia isn't exactly who he says he is? "

Is there ANY evidence I haven't got a 16 inch penis, a pet mini unicorn called Derek and a gold plated hovercraft parked in my garage? What a ridiculously illogical way to approach this.

Where is the "making shit up" thing?

We do not know where the funding has come from and will not until we see the accounts. That's a fact, not something made up.

No, I don't want to see his bank statement, I want to see prolonged investment in the club.

And I agree, I too hope he is a successful businessman who wants to grow the club. Who wouldn't hope for that?

I will just wait until we see some hard, legal, financial figures until I call him one thing or the other.

HSBC has a charge on the club. That's a fact.

"Dr Tony is a billionaire". That is not a fact.

Sorry for the cynicism, but he has come from a country where finances are incredibly hard to establish. We know pretty much nothing about him. We know nothing about Recon other than it's apparently a massively profitable company with almost no actual web imprint, there is nothing about it out there.

I am not saying he's a chancer, I am saying I'll believe his financial credentials when I see them confirmed in figures with the name of a big accountancy firm at the bottom saying they are happy.

[Drummond]

What's the problem though? Does he need to prove anything yet?

[Canadian Villa]

You only have to look at the Sty and the nonsense about their 'billionaire' who turned out to be a hairdresser.

[FatSam]

Its one thing having and spending money, but I am always envious of the kind of clear unerring direction that successful clubs seem to have. I'm talking about the sense of purpose that cuts through everything they do. The sort of coordinated approach that allows clubs to build new stadia for example, and re-position themselves in the hierarchy; it was well documented that Arsenal's transfer policy was tailored around funding the move from Highbury over many years, and Spurs are going through a similar process now.

Its difficult to judge at the moment, because the key thing is just to get promoted as soon as possible, but all that Xia has had to do so far is bring in Wyness and fund his reorganisation of the football side of things. Everything else has been cost-cutting due to relegation. As mentioned by other posters, we are yet to find out how exactly this has been funded.

Even under Lerner, although a lot of money was spent, it was mostly done in a haphazard and unsustainable way by MON. There was talk about plans for ground redevelopment, but understandably it wasn't top of the priorities whilst we were waiting for more sustained success on the pitch and the bigger crowds that come with it. With hindsight the things that did happen, the new crest, the Holte pub refurbishment etc. feel like Lerner's pet projects - him indulging his hobby, rather than a concerted push in a particular direction.

I don't really know what would reassure me on this front, and it's probably not possible anyway when we don't know what division we are going to be in. I suppose I would like to get a sense that there is a plan, and it is ambitious, realistic and fundable.

[ciggiesnbeer]

So the 7th biggest bank in the world worth over 2.3 TRILLION dollars has zero doubts Xia is who he says he is and is happy to work with him and Aston Villa, but some fans need "proof" because... right, no reason.

[frank black]

So the 7th biggest bank in the world worth over 2.3 TRILLION dollars has zero doubts Xia is who he says he is and is happy to work with him and Aston Villa, but some fans need "proof" because... right, no reason.

RBS were the 5th biggest bank in the world and Lehman brothers were no slouches......Just saying don’t think we should trust a banks judgment.

Time will tell with Tony, but I don’t think any of us know the size of the pot he has to p**s in yet.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Seriously?

You know what, forget it. If you guys want to invent bizarre conspiracy theories and make shit up about the owner of the club just to smear him, you go for it. I am going to going back to enjoying the recent run of good form. Knock yourselves out.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

So the 7th biggest bank in the world worth over 2.3 TRILLION dollars has zero doubts Xia is who he says he is and is happy to work with him and Aston Villa, but some fans need "proof" because... right, no reason.

When the security for such a loan is everything that Villa own, and that seems to include Bodymoor, Villa Park and any other assets we may have lurking around, then of course a bank might be happy to loan us money at commercial rates (note Lerner loaned us money at less than the going rate).

The issue here is surely that until the proof (in the form of the accounts appears) we have no idea what was borrowed and what strain that puts on the club (and indeed what Tony is contributing). It may be a few million to fund last winter''s purchases (it was taken out in October 2016), or at the very worst was the full purchase price of the Villa, and we've done a Glazer/Manchester United. Who knows until proof turns up as scheduled in February?

Note 1: Recon Sports changed its name to Recon Football in October
Note 2: We seem to have bought (again courtesy of HSBC) some land here: Freehold land at middleton hall quarry, middleton, tamworth…

All freely viewable here: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00046572

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Re: Middleton Hall Quarry. Just down the road from Bodymoor, so perhaps a replacement training ground?

[lovejoy]

So the 7th biggest bank in the world worth over 2.3 TRILLION dollars has zero doubts Xia is who he says he is and is happy to work with him and Aston Villa, but some fans need "proof" because... right, no reason.

HSBC?
They were reportedly fined €1.9bn for having inadequate controls to detect money laundering from Mexican drug cartels going through their accounts.

[Smoke]

Depending on how much we bought of the land but middleton hall quarry is a massive area.