Quote from: Rico on June 09, 2018, 08:17:24 PMHas there ever been a football club with so much potential that has been run as badly as Villa have been for the best part of thirty years? I just hope that our next owners, whoever they may be have a touch of business acumen. Deep pockets wouldn't hurt either!I think Doug got it right and spent a few quid between 1987 and 2002. SGT, BFR, Brian Little and even Gregory to an extent were all inspired appointments and he backed them with money. After that SGT and DOL had to try to do everything on the cheap. Obviously we want the next owner to have deep pockets but with FFP even that won't guarantee success.
Has there ever been a football club with so much potential that has been run as badly as Villa have been for the best part of thirty years? I just hope that our next owners, whoever they may be have a touch of business acumen. Deep pockets wouldn't hurt either!
Aston Villa will hold crunch talks over their financial crisis this week, with the Championship club under pressure to slash their wage bill by up to £15m.Villa have staved off the imminent threat of administration but are still facing further turmoil as they attempt to fall in line with Financial Fair Play rules.It can be revealed that later this month the troubled Midlanders will be hit with another £4.5m bill – comprising tax and wages - which beleaguered owner Dr Tony Xia must pay or risk the threat of another winding-up order.Xia, the Chinese businessman, secured a number of loans late last week to save Villa from possible administration, reaching an agreement with HMRC, but the club’s financial worries are mounting.Villa want to drastically cut their £45m wage bill this summer to avoid the prospect of a fine or even transfer embargo, increasing uncertainty over the futures of players including Jack Grealish and James Chester.Club chiefs want it significantly lowered to around £30m and, ideally, would prefer to offload fringe players such as Micah Richards, Ross McCormack and Henri Lansbury.Next season’s budget and the summer strategy will be discussed in a meeting on Monday with technical director Steve Round, chief commercial officer Luke Organ, director Tracy Gu and executive assistant Rongtian He.Steve Bruce, the manager, will not be present at the summit in London as he is still on holiday but his future remains uncertain due to the club’s dire finances.Bruce could be an option for Leeds United if they fail to lure Marcelo Bielsa, while there are many Villa supporters who believe he should be sacked after failing to reach the Premier League.A more pressing dilemma for Xia is the £4.5m bill expected on or around June 22, though some sources insist there is now enough cash to tide the club over until next month.It is also understood that Xia is adamant the club will not be sold, while they are adopting a hardline stance on the future of Grealish.The homegrown attacker is on the radar of Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City but Villa will demand a transfer fee over £30m.Keith Wyness, the chief executive, could have his future resolved this week after he was suspended on Tuesday.Wyness and Xia clashed over the club’s future plans and it is thought unlikely the former will be returning.Villa are preparing for a third season in the Championship after losing to Fulham in last month’s play-off final.
I don’t think having an owner who pumps money in to make up for shortfalls is the answer really. Creating a sustainable structure where we don’t live beyond our means and having a manager who will focus on developing our own young players would be a better way forward.
Cobbling loans together.Just like an actual billionaire would do.Absolute fucking chancer.