Christian Purslow on 5Live Sportsweek

[OCD]

 Not forgetting Habib Beye. Although it’s easily done.

[Ad@m]

Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.

A pivotal moment in our history indeed.

As was selling Cahill to Bolton for 5 million quid and replacing him with Zat Knight for 6 million. One of the most bizzare set of  transfer dealings in the clubs history.

Yep, we had Cahill and Mellberg, so he dropped Cahill and pissed Mellberg off by sticking him at right back so that he could accommodate Zat Knight.  Brilliant.  Then adds Curtis Davies and Carlos Cuellar to the mix, before deciding they are all crap and getting Dunne and Collins in.  Brilliant all round from Pubehead.

Don't forget Luke young and Stephen Warnock.

Two entire defences bought in consecutive summers.

And all reportedly earning c.£40k per week, which would still be silly money now!

[Fasth56]

Not forgetting Habib Beye. Although it’s easily done.

9 appearances in 3 years @ £40,000/ week equates to £693,333 per appearance. Figures courtesy of O'Neilconomics

[eamonn]

You'd miss VillaDawg (and Seattle Villain).

[ozzjim]

Spot on. Lessons were not learnt in January 2009 when us and Arsenal were going for 4th. They signed Arshavin and we signed Heskey.

A pivotal moment in our history indeed.

You say January.... Arsenal signed Arse shaving on about the 24th Feb by the time they had bent all the rules going.

[Pvb1968]

Aston Villa Supporters Trust
Question & Answer Session with Christian Purslow CEO of Aston Villa

CP was asked whether supporters could be auto-enrolled as members of the trust as part of the season ticket renewal process.
CP was not adverse to the idea and would consider the matter; however he was not in favour of imposing membership on all supporters and also the club need to be mindful of other supporters groups. He does support the idea of encouraging all supporters to participate in groups that take an active interest in the club.
CP was asked his views on why there has been a lack of progression of players from the U23’s to the 1st team
CP stated that a superbly functioning academy was a core pillar of the new owners’ strategy. There was no value to the club of having players being paid to play in the U23’s who were not seen to have a future at AVFC. Supporters would see a change of emphasis even during the current window with players in the 18 to 21-age range being promoted to working with the 1st team squad at the expense of older players.
CP was asked how the new owners were tackling the issue of FFP in light of the perilous financial position they inherited
CP said that it was a huge priority of the new owners to clean up the financial position of the club. The first stage had been to remove the debt from the balance sheet, and it has been achieved with the significant equity investment from Sawiris and Edens. The second stage is to reduce the operating losses and this was now being addressed with the aim of dramatically reducing the average age and average cost of the playing squad.
CP was asked why under -3s are currently banned from Villa Park
CP was unaware of this and would look into it and report back.
CP was asked about plans to improve disabled toilet facilities.
CP said money was now available to address all areas where investment is needed to improve the facilities and that this sort of expenditure does not impact on FFP. One area that was being addressed immediately was the PA system.




The issue of the U23’s was raised again with reference to the approach adopted at Brentford.
CP reiterated the need to develop a strong U23s and highlighted that the new coaching team attend all U23 games and that development of our own talent was a critical part of the new owners’ strategy.

It was asked whether the upper tier of the Trinity Road stand would be opened for all games.
CP said he had been tracking attendances for last 6 years and that average attendances this season were up on previous seasons. However the upper tier would only be opened were there significant ticket demand.
The issue of failing to achieve promotion this season was raised
CP said that getting promoted was not a pre-requisite of the new owners. There will be no short-term measures taken to chase promotion that would put the long-term future of the club at stake. However the club are not giving up on trying for promotion with the current squad many of whom do not have a long-term future at the club. It is still the objective of the players and coaching staff.
CP also explained that Dr Xia’s stake in the club had reduced to about 25% following further investment by Sawiris and Edens and that he expected their stake to increase over time with further investment.
Following the appointment of Dean Smith CP was asked about the development of a playing identity.
The club wants to develop an attractive exciting playing style and hired Dean Smith precisely because he fitted that aim. They also want to recruit players who want to play that style They also want this playing strategy adopted across all age ranges
Previous owners and CEO’s had promised the earth, what are intentions of new owners?
CP assured fans that new owners are highly experienced understand professional sport and will do it the right way. He also said that he wanted to be judged on actions not words.
CP was asked how long he thought John Terry would be at the club in a coaching role?
He explained that the he thought the new coaching team were working really well together including JT and Neil Cutler and he hoped JT would be here for the long term.
The question of a Premier League 2 was raised
CP revealed the gulf in terms of TV revenue between the bottom of the premier league circa £100m and £7m for a team at the top of the championship excluding parachute payments. Many of the leading championship clubs are working on a Sustainability Project to work for a fairer distribution of TV revenue and trying to garner the support from Premier League teams it needs to make a change that will be better for football generally.

[Pvb1968]

Didn't know if it had been posted. I joined yesterday so thought I'd share the minutes.

[Ads]

Cheers PvB for posting that. Much prefer you to that oik LeeB.

[four fornicholl]

Talk's cheap.

[LeeB]

Talk's cheap.

I tried telling that to my old man when he saw the phone bill from Clubcall

[Richard E]

Talk's cheap.

Sign him then. What position does he play?

[Ads]

Talk's cheap.

I tried telling that to my old man when he saw the phone bill from Clubcall

So who was that star we're signing?

[Risso]

"CP was asked whether supporters could be auto-enrolled as members of the trust as part of the season ticket renewal process."

GDPR says hello.

[four fornicholl]

Talk's cheap.

I tried telling that to my old man when he saw the phone bill from Clubcall

So who was that star we're signing?

0898 12 11 48, tattooed in my mind!

[Richard E]

"CP was asked whether supporters could be auto-enrolled as members of the trust as part of the season ticket renewal process."

GDPR says hello.

I feel like I’ve spent most of this week sorting out other people’s data protection balls ups, so GDPR can sod off.