Padfield Hits Villa Wall Of Silence

More consortium news, none of it getting us any closer to where we want to be takeover wise.

It seems that the long talked about Michael Neville group might be interested in teaming up with Nicholas Padfield QC who is fronting the AV06 group looking at buying Aston Villa.

Padfield, according to the press today, is willing to meet and talk with Neville when he returns from holiday at the end of the week.

Padfield said in an interview on Radio Five Live, said: 'The latest state of play is we have been approached by representatives from other consortia who have already put their hats in the ring. One of those is representatives of Mr Neville. We are considering opening discussions with them but haven't taken a firm decision. Nothing is going to happen until I return (from holiday) at the end of the week. We haven't had serious discussions yet but an approach has been made to me and certainly I'm quite happy to arrange a meeting when I get back.'

He also admits they won't be rushing to make a formal bid until he gets all the information he needs.

Padfield is also surprised at the lack of urgency and information from the club, he said: 'I have had no discussions with Mr Ellis at all and all of us find it surprising that no-one from the club has bothered to tell us what the position is as regards whether any formal offers have been made or indeed the position as regards appointing a manager.'

'I am having various meetings next week. They will be a number of meetings but I don't anticipate we will be in a great rush to make a bid simply because we don't have all the relevant information on which to base it.'

'One of the crucial issues is the extent to which Doug Ellis wants to retain a stake in the club or whether he is prepared to sell his entire share-holding. With Mr Ellis' involvement over so many years, I'd be very surprised if he didn't want some role in helping the best interests of the club. We would welcome that. If it was an informal role, not taking a front seat, I don't see what the fans could object to.'

Hmmm. It seems obvious this group are some way behind others who have done due diligence and that the club are dragging their heels with contact, so it surely doesn't seem that likely that they will nip in and win? Still, with Villa, who knows?

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