The Villa Times - 27/09/2006

Randy Lerner is now over 90% and will compulsorily purchase the remaining shares so he has 100% ownership of Aston Villa.

It looks like Lee Hendrie could be soon on his way as John Gregory's QPR have now joined Crystal palace and several other clubs looking for a loan move for the Villa midfielder. Full article: Click Here

According to the Actim Index, the three most in-form defenders in the Premiership are Gareth Barry, Liam Ridgewell and Olof Mellberg. Barry is fourth in the stats, Ridgewell and Gabby Agbonlahor are also in the top ten and Mellberg is 12th. Thomas Sorensen is the second ranked goalkeeper.

Gary Cahill, slayer of Blue Noses, is pushing for a return following a lengthy spell out after picking up a knee injury in the pre-season game against FC Groningen.
Meanwhile the news for Mark Delaney isn't quite so good as he faces more time out after he underwent more surgery on his troublesome knee. Martin O'Neill certainly isn't ruling out the 30-year-old Wales international though, despite the fact his contract runs out in the summer. O'Neill told the official site: 'He got his cartilage trimmed up, so he'll be out for a few weeks but it is better sorting it out now than waiting around. He's had terrible luck. The only games he has played since I have been here have been the games for Wales.'

The club have issued the following reminder that the AGM set for this Friday has been adjourned until 30th November 2006.

The Carling Cup third round tie against Leicester City will be played on Tuesday October 24 (ko 7.45pm).

In other ticket news, tickets for the home clash with Blackburn (Nov 4) are now on sale. As are Tottenham Hotspur (Oct 14) and Fulham (Oct 21) and the away trip to Liverpool (Oct 28). Chelsea has sold out..... in more ways than one! ;-))

Former Aston Villa assistant manager Roy Aitken is ready to return to football after fully recovering from a major operation to remove a tumour in the summer. Aitken said: 'I feel absolutely fine, great in fact. I was given a 12-week rehabilitation programme after the operation but I couldn't take it because of what happened at Villa. I came back to work after six which may not have been ideal but it's now been 14 weeks and I am feeling strong again. I've been given the all-clear by the specialist.'

Martin O'Neill is looking to tie young Villa midfielder Isaiah Osbourne to the club on a long-term deal. Osbourne was given number 27 as a squad number last month and O'Neill wants to see the 18-year-old stay and develop at Villa.

The official site say that left-back Jlloyd Samuel, the subject of much transfer speculation through the summer, is finally recovering from an initial thigh injury plus further complications. Jlloyd strained his thigh against Reading and Martin O'Neill explains his return took longer than expected.

The Aston (Villa) Browns Backers are now up to 84 members and I believe are now the second largest 'chapter' outside of America. Click Here

Thought for the day: I smile because I don't know what the hell is going on.

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