Lerner and Ellis Speak

Who cares now though! The lion is about to roar again.

Good point ooahpaulmcgrath, I think that stand should be re named after me ! I think i have put more money into the club than the (dead) deadly ! Well done Randy ! Champions League here we come !!

whos. first on the transfer list then, petrov, malbranque, kaka!? How much money will he give MON to spend, thast the important question at the monent...get on ladbrokes, were 10/1 to finish 45 points behind chelski, good bet now i rekcon

American billionaire Randy Lerner is set to take control of Aston Villa, after winning the battle to buy the Midlands club. The Premiership outfit have announced to the Stock Exchange that Lerner will take over the running of the club from current chairman Doug Ellis. Lerner had been part of a four-horse race to buy out Ellis' stake, with the outgoing chairman having held talks with the interested parties in recent weeks. It appeared Lerner had cooled his interest in taking over at Villa Park after announcing he had withdrawn from discussions at the end of last month. But the owner of NFL team Cleveland Browns revived his bid and has now struck a deal with Ellis, which values the club at £62.6 million. Ellis had been prepared to sell his stake in Villa since last October after spending almost 40 years - in two spells - involved in the running of the club. He is now close to ending his reign after the announcement that an agreement had been reached with Lerner. The other consortia keen on buying the club included a group headed by long-time Villa supporter Michael Neville. Sven Goran Eriksson's agent Athole Still was also fronting a bid, while AV06 were the fourth consortium bidding to buy Ellis' share. The Villa board have unanimously recommended that shareholders accept the offer, with Ellis hopeful for the future of the club. "It has been my sincere pleasure to have been involved with Aston Villa these many years, both as chairman and as a substantial shareholder," said Ellis in a statement. "The club has been an enormous and immensely enjoyable part of my life. "I wish to thank the many staff at Aston Villa over the years for making the club what it has been and what it is. "I am sure that this transaction will be the beginning of a new chapter in Aston Villa's proud history." Dont you just love it when a plan comes together......... American billionaire American billionaire American billionaire American billionaire Got a ring to it, dang wheres my Banjo boy. Is this the best news you ever read??

Lerner said: "It is my belief and the basis for my bid that Aston Villa can compete at the highest level within the Premiership and in Europe." Claret & Blue stetsons all round!

this is great what a nice thing to wake up to. I hope the doug Ellis stand will now be called the Andy Grey stand

Anyone gonna go all soft on Doug and wish him all the best and say thanx now he's going? No, didnt think so. Good ridance Mr Ellis!

Got to admit, Doug has gone out in style!

PaulG...you've got a point. He's really had a last swansong, centre of attention for the last few weeks, did something "for the fans" in appointing O`Neil. Enjoy your retirement you old git! No reason why he can't come to watch the games thoguh is there...

I don't think Ellis had much to do with MO'N becoming manager, Martin came to Villa because he KNEW it was about to be taken over, he wouldn't have touched us with a bargepole otherwise. Lerner probably 'allowed' Ellis to make the appointment as his final farewell gesture.

Its difficult to believe that a mere three weeks ago we were all suffering from total apathy towards the new season. Doom and gloom was the order of the day. Now look at us. Euphoria.

AV White, big LOL :-)

I am as anti Ellis as most. However I think it is important to take the positives out of what he has done and let the man bow out with grace. The club was in real trouble when he was part of the consortium that took control in 1968. The reversal in Villa fortunes including returning to the top flight and putting the club on a sound financial footing was no easy feat. Although he was no longer around for the glory years in the early 80's it was his work over the previous 10 years that gave the platform for this to happen. What he should not of done was come back again in 1982. On the positive side he has left us with a great manager and what looks like, a real chance for the club to compete. As part of the deal he has been awarded the role of Life President. This is right and proper. Although it will probably mean that renaming of the Witton Lane (Ron Saunders Stand) will not happen, at least whilst he is alive. For all his faults he is a proud man and can go with his head held high. Let him go with grace and good wishes for his health and future. Show some class and lets not ridicule a man who, for all his wrongs, has done an enormous amount for Aston Villa. However we now expect someone to invest in OUR club. Lets prove that it is a product worth investing in by packing Villa Park every week. When this happens, the already agreed plans to take the ground up to 52,000 capacity by redeveloping the North Stand will happen quicker. We all have our wish of new investors and a great manager. There are no excuses for not purchasing your season tickets for yourself, your wife/girlfriend and your kids. Lets ensure that every Villa fan plays their part. Any fan that still refuses to, should keep all their opinions to themselves.