Christian Purslow - Resigned

[Mister E]

According to the Athletic;
https://theathletic.com/4602564/2023/06/12/christian-purslow-aston-villa-leave/
"Villa are moving in a new direction with head coach Unai Emery and his team of close assistants taking charge of football matters alongside the owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens (NSWE).
Chris Heck, the new president of business operations, will oversee all the important off-field matters including increasing revenue and globalising the Aston Villa brand, so Villa no longer need a CEO figure as the model has changed."

... which still leaves the issue of dealing with the Premier League, overseeing stadium development and being the front man for the club. Maybe these things were not attractive to Purslow and can be done by more technical experts,, yet to be brought in.

[itmustbe_it is!]

They do really need to sort out the catering though. It's always been bad, but surely it's low hanging fruit as far as increasing revenue is concerned.

Not satisfied with pricing out the common man, we're also now determined to starve any that have the temerity to still attend!

I've no doubt if Emery was put in charge of pies, it'd be absolutely world-class within a season, but I can't see him doing a tactical analysis of serving methods and queueing routes.

I've only been to one baseball game in the US, but the service there put Villa Park to shame. So I imagine Chris Heck would be whatever the American equivalent of flabbergasted is were he to spend a game trying to get his mitts on one of the fourteen balti pies they seem to have decided to prepare (and dry out) per stand. But again, I can't see this being high on his bonus list.

So who now is actually going to feed us? Questions need to be asked!

Lower Holte catering is pretty good now after the changes towards the end of the season. I've no complaints (price apart, but it's what you'd expect at any "event" and cheaper than many still.)

[eamonn]

Keown and Jordan weigh-in on it:

[passport1]

He'll probably be running for the Tories in one of the upcoming by-elections. He strikes me as a Rishi-loyalist.

Is all this Tory-stuff simply Red Scouse, chip-on-the-shoulder nonsense? I recently read Purslow's father's obituary and it seems Mr Purslow Sr was a devout Catholic and paid up member of the Labour Party.  Now, that doesn't necessarily mean CP was the same, but still...

It seems any opportunity to mention the Tories is the obsession of some on here - quite pathetic really as there are enough political threads elsewhere.

Bores will be bores.

[edgysatsuma89]

Keown and Jordan weigh-in on it:

Keown really is dense.

[chrisw1]

I'm not s sure.  The way things have been over the last few months I think the owners would have backed Emery over Purslow if there had been a difference of views.

[Stu82]

He came over as a not very bright centrehalf, with strange theories.

[Holy Trinity]

I think that video was just an Arsenal man giving pelters to someone who he deems failed his club and Simon Jordan actually making sense (shudders)

I think this has been in the offing for quite some time! Since around the same time slippy got the hook and it's the perfect time, Purslow comes out of it with a very solid reputation and job done and the owners get the right team in place for the new manager

[VILLA MOLE]

Keown and Jordan weigh-in on it:

Keown really is dense.

yes he sounds like he should be intelligent but he is very blinkered

[edgysatsuma89]

I'm not s sure.  The way things have been over the last few months I think the owners would have backed Emery over Purslow if there had been a difference of views.

I don't disagree with that, it was his strange bitterness towards Emery taking down, what, pictures? Memorabilia? I don't know, maybe a picture of Keown was removed? Just came across odd. He's a terrible commentator as well.

[ChicagoLion]

He obviously bears a grudge from Emery time at Arse. Jordan as usual comes across well.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

On the plus side, Purslow did our transfer business extremely well as many clubs were keen to point out. He generally represented the club through the media in a dignified manner. Villa Park expansion plans are hopefully another tick in the positive box.

On the negative side he'd still failed to get Villa Park catering to work, the new shirts out on time and revenue has hardly exploded. I'm expecting the new bar in the Holte to be scrapped some time next season and his management recruitment - well the less said the better.

Overall, I'll thank him and wish him well. He steadied the good ship.

[Joe S]

Henry Winter:
"Purslow will be missed by Villa in Premier League meetings. He stood up to the bullies in there, the Super Leaguers, those who had no respect for the pyramid or the national team. Purslow and Brighton’s Paul Barber have been two of the voices of reason and balance in the PL room."

[dave.woodhall]

Henry Winter:
"Purslow will be missed by Villa in Premier League meetings. He stood up to the bullies in there, the Super Leaguers, those who had no respect for the pyramid or the national team. Purslow and Brighton’s Paul Barber have been two of the voices of reason and balance in the PL room."

He also made it clear that if we were one of the Six, he would change his mind.

[Gerrin]

According to the Athletic;
https://theathletic.com/4602564/2023/06/12/christian-purslow-aston-villa-leave/
"Villa are moving in a new direction with head coach Unai Emery and his team of close assistants taking charge of football matters alongside the owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens (NSWE).
Chris Heck, the new president of business operations, will oversee all the important off-field matters including increasing revenue and globalising the Aston Villa brand, so Villa no longer need a CEO figure as the model has changed."

... which still leaves the issue of dealing with the Premier League, overseeing stadium development and being the front man for the club. Maybe these things were not attractive to Purslow and can be done by more technical experts,, yet to be brought in.

I do hope the front man for the club isn't going to be this Chris Heck guy. Would love to see someone like Ian Taylor given a more senior role in the running of the club.