My head is spinning.
After Saturday’s game, our confirmed relegation just left me even number than I’ve been for the last few weeks.
There was no real emotion, as along with anyone with half a brain, I knew we were already down, so there was no surprise.
The fact that we were actually relegated though started to raise loads of questions about our future and I’d been saving them up, ready to post at this moment.
But the bombshell news that Bernstein and King have resigned makes all of my previous questions pale into insignificance and I’m now genuinely scared for our future.
As if the serious threat of another relegation wasn’t already enough to worry about.
So I’d got my theory worked out and it was based on the assumption that even though the official stance is that Holis is working hard in negotiations regarding a sale, I frankly didn’t believe it to be true.
With the reality being more like the board as it was, had set up a blueprint which required a major clear out and a serious wedge of investment.
Something that Randy Lerner flatly refused to go along with.
This is the part that just seemed to be to be “fundamental” and what has made the ex-directors’ positions “untenable”.
All completely logical. Or so I thought.
And then, just like buses, along come another two stories that have totally thrown me.
First there’s Pat Murphy’s story that the club is up for sale and Lerner is willing to sell for £75 million.
It’s come from “Andrew” on here and while I can’t confirm it myself, I’ve no reason to doubt that what “Andrew” says is true (and it’s now backed up by the Telegraph)
And it also makes sense to me, as Lerner could afford to sell at this price and still won’t be losing anywhere near the amounts of money that have been suggested by the accounts (I’m sure you all know my thoughts about those).
But it blows my original theory out of the water and would mean that it’s not about Lerner not accepting the plan.
And then there’s the news of Gabby Agbonlahor living it up and partying on the very night our relegation was confirmed.
Now, if you agree with my previous thoughts that the Gabby “fat camp” story was just that and it’s a cover to explain why he’s been totally kicked out of the first team, you have to also agree that what he’s done here is basically display utter contempt for us fans and the club.
Ok, I can understand why you want to let your hair down after a crap day at the office.
So go and have a few quiet drinks with friends.
But keep it discreet as possible and don’t find yourself in a room with laughing gas bottles strewn all over the floor. Especially after having been caught smoking cigars and having a Hookah pipe in your mouth so recently.
The girls part of it all, I can live with.
There’s nothing better for keeping your pecker up (see what I did there?) and it doesn’t affect your fitness, as long as you get enough kip, does it?
We all know footballers have a reputation for being thick, but it seems we have a much bigger share than average and you would expect that they’ve been told to stay out of the limelight by the hierarchy, especially after some of the foot in mouth comments/antics lately.
So it wouldn’t surprise me if Bernstein and King have finally had enough with Gabby and wanted to sack him for something like bringing the club into disrepute or gross misconduct.
Certainly the timing of the resignations suggests that there’s some sort of link anyway.
But I don’t believe it’s the sole reason they’ve resigned.
Now that I’ve thought about things, so I think that the board wanted Gabby gone as part of the blueprint.
And the player’s latest antics were the perfect excuse to get rid.
Think about it and it explains the “fundamental” and “radical” words perfectly.
We’d be getting rid of “Mr Aston Villa”, the one man who ought to be crying himself to sleep at night at our plight, but in reality doesn’t give a toss.
I’ve suggested previously that Lerner has protected Gabby and it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s still the case.
Which would explain why he can seemingly get away with anything, given that many of us think he’s a major instigator of many of the club’s problems. Which means he has to go, at any cost.
But Lerner doesn’t see it that way and blocks the move totally, because he’s so out of touch with what’s really going on.
So basically, it’s a combination of things that have led to the resignations.
Pie in the sky?
Maybe, but we’ll never find out from the directors. They’ll never come out with the truth, because it’s not the done thing to spill the beans after the fact.
Yet at the same time, I still don’t think Lerner’s going to sell the club imminently either.
Look at Merv’s comment in his resignation letter;
“New leadership is desperately needed to change the culture and the capability of the Club at all levels. When you, David Bernstein and I were asked join the board, we were able to make a start. But progress has stalled. It is clear that a sale of the Club to a new owner must be brought about as soon as possible, and I wish you every success in that effort.”
Now perhaps I’m seeing something that isn’t there, but the wording isn’t quite right if Lerner is in the middle of a deal.
That’s as close as a man in his position can get to saying that Lerner just has to go, because he’s an idiot, in my book.
And not a point you’d make if a deal was about to be sealed, as there would be no need.
Regardless, I suspect this will prove a very dark day for the club; even more so than the day we were relegated.
Yanks don’t like the truth
One good thing about these resignations is it’s shed some light on our glorious leaders personality (or lack of one).
He’s a prick – end of… Threw his toys out of the pram when two experienced directors criticised him – An absolute disgrace of a man…. Who is solely responsible for our demise !
Agreed.
But he’s showing just how much of an egotistical megalomanic prick he his (Allegedly).
*is*
So true, it is frightening – It terrifies me what state our club will be in if he stays for much longer !
On the bright side we’ve just won the award for the best pitch but then again we did have an unfair advantage given the amount of s**t its had on it this season.
And no football was played on it either !
Lol.
With the cuts I suppose the BCC will be maintaining it next season.
Word on the street is Amey have won the contract.
Lol I’m sure there’s cheaper
Lerner is an absolute disgrace with a view of himself which clearly bears no resemblance to the truth.
From the BBC report, the man comes over as a pariah, a bully and his record shows he is completely incompetent when it comes to running a sporting business. Given his track record he will, no doubt, balls up any potential sale.
I can see Hollis walking at which point I feel any hope for the future has been destroyed.
Talking about ballsing up any potential sale – listening to the WM phone in and some fella phoned in and reckoned that’s why K & B resigned.
They (K & B) drew up a valuation of the playing staff and come to a figure of X amount but our glorious leader had other ideas, allegedly valuing Bacuna at £10m.
Could believe that BWS – Lerner would probably rather listen to Riley’s inane and insane views rather than B&K. As Head of Recruitment and largely responsible for assembling the squad we have and spending (sorry wasting) £55m in the summer – how is it Riley is still in a job?
Daily Mail have run an article saying he was confident he had assembled a top 12 squad of players who had never played in the PL!
He touched upon that as well, apparently his (PR’s) misses holds a lofty position in the financial department at VP and well respected and liked by our glorious leader, hence PR’s continued employment.
Just reinforces what seems to be Lerner’s complete lack of business judgement. PR’s missus might be good at her job but that shouldn’t buy her old man such a senior and influential position when he clearly has made massive errors of judgement. If Almstadt and Fox had to ‘fall on their swords’ then Riley should be right behind them.
It would be a travesty if he keeps his job whilst 500 others lose theirs!
No argument from me on that score Hitchy.
I do believe any senior position at the club will be untenable more will follow,our DICKtator will make sure of that.
And a further point – who ‘leaked’ the emails to Lerner. My money’s on Riley sidling up to his protector. Heaven help us.
I agree, and that’s the real issue here Hitch. It can only be Riley, Krulak or a vindictive Fox, who else has the motive?
Furthermore if that’s an acceptable tactic from both the leaker and Lerner, then surely it’s something they’ve done numerous times before. Is this the source of all the undermining previous managers have complained of? Is Randy’s level of paranoia that high, that this is a normal way of doing business for him?
I used to stick up for him a little bit by saying he was a decent chap who was in over his head, took unqualified advice and made horrific decisions. This changes all that for me, he’s an impudent, paranoid and egotistical blowhard who’s now embarrassed himself, not just to the football world, but on a global business stage by treating people of the calibre of King, Hollis and Bernstein in this manner.
Aston Villa Irish Lions to boycott anything to do with Villa they had enough of Lerner and urge all fans to do they same. Statement on NN. Cant copy and paste link on this phone.
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/aston-villa-irish-lions-club-statement-sums-up-anger-frustration/
Here it is – sorry I could only find it on the MOMS site
Thanks Hitchens.
i reckon the mole is General Charles Krulak, we are screwed. why isn’t the club addressing the fans about the fallout. i reckon this isn’t over yet, chairman will be next to walk. the new boardroom have been lied too, just like the fans had been lied too all the time and all the managers we have gone through.
Im suprised Hollis hasn’t walked, surely he must know what hes dealing with in Lerner, any businessman worth his salt should have worked out by now the true facts about Lerner, the man has shown his colours since the time he bought the club. Villa must find a way to get rid of that leach, hes deadly to us and out to ruin Villa and wouldn’t care. Did I say ruin? he’s already has.
Bill, I’m starting to have a lot of respect for Steve Hollis. He could easily have walked and I don’t think anyone would blame him if he did. I now get the feeling he really wants to sort this out and put Villa back on the map where they belong. Whatever else he is, he’s a great advocate of Birmingham and the WM.
If he pulls off a sale he’ll have my everlasting gratitude.
Reading all of the stuff today, I’m starting to think that Hollis might not be staying much longer – all seems to depend on just how attached Lerner is to his ‘favourites’ within VP [Riley, Shabby, etc.,].
I’d guess that if Hollis can’t find a way to get Shabby out of the door, he’ll probably decide it’s pointless to try reforming the set-up under Lerner.
I can’t understand why Hollis is still there.
he brought in 2 people at director level to a job and the owner prevented them from doing that job. Hollis also said on day one he was going to be a Lerner lapdog.
well Mr Hollis if you stay in the job after your people are forced out a lapdog is exactly what you are.
This is the tipping point, how much more of this can we take? May I suggest the following on Saturday;
– a first half of pure venting and expression from the stands, a red hot cauldron of pride in our club and dissatisfaction with the ownership.
– during the half time interval a full stadium, nonviolent (cannot stress the importance of that enough) pitch invasion.
-stay on the pitch for the next 45 minutes, continuing the singing of pride in our club and protesting against Lerner. Bring banners, bring instruments and stand up for our future.
This will create a media frenzy, we’ll dominate all the sports channels halftime round ups as they try to work out what’s happening. By continuing through the second half and not allowing the match to restart we’ll continue to receive media coverage as it will be all over social media at that point as well. As long as we stay non violent, non confrontational with the opposition and keep the protest well humoured, I think we could make a real statement, on an international news worthy level, of how bad our clubs ownership has become. We cannot allow him to stay, Lerner out, NOW!
@Holtender
Could not agree less. I know you’re angry but please think.
Talk about totally f***ing up any shred of dignity the club has left if we did that! We’d be even more of a laughing stock.
Southampton still have a chance of making the Europa League and this sort of talk is well below a club of our stature.
We need to play out the games to the best that we can and give our opposition the best fight we can (okay I know we couldn’t fight our way out of a wet paper bag but still). We owe it to all the teams we have left to play.
As for being non-violent just look at the videos of the stewards and the banner protests. It would turn violent soon enough.
Talk like this is just nuts. Please no-one take any notice.
I’m sorry you feel that way Pat, but as you say we barely have a shred of dignity left. I don’t see how an orderly peaceful procession onto the pitch at halftime would look badly upon us. Southampton will be awarded the 3 points anyway, so no harm to them.
I was against protesting before but now the players have downed tools, who can it hurt apart from the ownership? I can’t imagine even the calmest, most non-confrontational, “it’ll be ok in the end” type supporters are not outraged at this weeks happenings. Enough is enough, time for a clear statement, we won’t put up with this sleepwalking into the abyss any longer.
Although I do strongly agree with you that the fear of trouble would be concerning, it simply cannot happen. It mustn’t be seen as a hardcore ‘ultra’ style protest, it must be seen as the heart and soul of our great club having enough; women, kids, soon to be exemployees, former players, all of us speaking with one voice, making a single simple statement that can’t be ignored, we deserve better.
Forgive me if I’m wrong but the way I see is Lerner and his accountants turn up to a quartiley or 6 monthly meeting with his trusted board members. they all discuss finances, performances etc etc. By the end of this meeting the board will go away knowing their budget for approaching transfer window and start talking with scouts and managers about players wanted, needed or wherever they feel the money would be best spent if at all.
To cut the story short Lerner should leave the business to the men he pays to run the football club.
If they say and all agree gabby needs to go, the power has to be there for these guys.
As it stands villa is a great place to ruin a career and will be avoided like the plague.
I cant quite believe what is happening this week. As if relegation isn’t embarrassing enough:
1. New directors resigning
2. Gabby’s antics
3. Traore’s contract
4. Okore in the U21s…which can only mean we are stuck with Lescott or Richards…or both…at the back
Lerner is like Hitler in the final weeks of the war stuck in his bunker, Riley is Goebbels, toadying around him and agreeing with everything he says. While above them Aston Villa is falling to bits. They’ll end up taking cyanide capsules after they’ve set fire to Villa Park!!