Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[PeterWithesShin]

I do like this bit though. It's the attitude we as need as a club, and as fans.

And if Villa’s form does continue through to the end of the season, I suggest, the existing Big Six in the Premier League — with their superior revenues and ability to pay higher wages — may come knocking for Villa’s best players, striker Ollie Watkins most prominent among them.
“They can try all they want,” says Heck, firmly. “But maybe we’ll try to buy one of their players. I think this idea that we’re here for the taking is dated. And we need to move on from that.”

[Chris Smith]

I dont want a behind the scenes bollocks.

Could they just make it so we could, you know, buy beers at half time. 

It’s not compulsory that you watch it.

[PaulWinch again]

I do like this bit though. It's the attitude we as need as a club, and as fans.

And if Villa’s form does continue through to the end of the season, I suggest, the existing Big Six in the Premier League — with their superior revenues and ability to pay higher wages — may come knocking for Villa’s best players, striker Ollie Watkins most prominent among them.
“They can try all they want,” says Heck, firmly. “But maybe we’ll try to buy one of their players. I think this idea that we’re here for the taking is dated. And we need to move on from that.”

Agreed love that.

[Risso]

I do like this bit though. It's the attitude we as need as a club, and as fans.

And if Villa’s form does continue through to the end of the season, I suggest, the existing Big Six in the Premier League — with their superior revenues and ability to pay higher wages — may come knocking for Villa’s best players, striker Ollie Watkins most prominent among them.
“They can try all they want,” says Heck, firmly. “But maybe we’ll try to buy one of their players. I think this idea that we’re here for the taking is dated. And we need to move on from that.”

We're not going to be buying anybody like that because of FFP concerns, so the chances of raiding Arsenal for Rice or Saka seem a bit slim.

[PeterWithesShin]

It was mainly the last couple of sentences I was on about,

[KevinGage]

He's taking a cold-eyed unsentimental approach to his job, which is to drive up revenue from every potential source.

Remember that Deadly Doug got a lot of flak during his time in charge (some deserved, some less so) because he was a fairly hard-nosed businessman who kept an eye on the pennies. But in retrospect there's a recognition of the positive changes and improvements he brought about during his times at B6 6HE - remember where we were and what Villa Park was like when he took over in 1968?

I remember what we were like when he took over in 1982 and I remember how that "hard-nosed businessman" failed to take advantage of every opportunity that came our way from then on.

Indeed.

Keeping a club like Aston Villa solvent is not worthy of naming a stand after one's self.

[dave.woodhall]

I dont want a behind the scenes bollocks.

Could they just make it so we could, you know, buy beers at half time. 

The two aren't mutually exclusive.

[Bad English]

Thought it was interesting that they want to make the tunnel more intimidating for opposition players. It is all a bit too nice atm.

[algy]

[Beard82]

I dont want a behind the scenes bollocks.

Could they just make it so we could, you know, buy beers at half time. 

The two aren't mutually exclusive.

I mean - rather than selling behind the scenes footage - couldnt we just sort out stuff like that?

[Dante Lavelli]

The format and content of that interview suggests it wasn’t in the sports section.  The Business or Money section right?

If so, it’s clear he is tying to get his name out there in those circles improving his chances of getting the sponsorship deals etc.

[Villan For Life]

The format and content of that interview suggests it wasn’t in the sports section.  The Business or Money section right?

If so, it’s clear he is tying to get his name out there in those circles improving his chances of getting the sponsorship deals etc.

Yes it was in the business section

[chrisw1]

I dont want a behind the scenes bollocks.

Could they just make it so we could, you know, buy beers at half time. 

The two aren't mutually exclusive.

I mean - rather than selling behind the scenes footage - couldnt we just sort out stuff like that?

But they're not related at all.  If it does bring in a few million quid, or help increase our fan base abroad is it really a problem?

I'm a big critic of our catering, although I have noticed service in the upper Holte does seem to have improved a bit over the last few games 

[cdward]

From a purely business perspective in the terms of turnover and profit, the article paints Villa as a small club, trying to become a big club, which is not too far off the mark.

Commercially we are way behind a lot of other clubs, and Heck has been brought in to change that.
https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/sports-business-group/articles/deloitte-football-money-league.html
If Emery keeps us competing at the right end of the table and we become regulars in European competitions, Hecks job will be a lot easier.

[exigo]

I dont want a behind the scenes bollocks.

Could they just make it so we could, you know, buy beers at half time. 

The two aren't mutually exclusive.

Exactly. Sell the rights for a few million quid, and use the cash to put in better facilities. Or would people rather we sold players to fund it instead?