Aston Villa FC Takeover to Signal Change in Fortunes?

After a long period of speculation and uncertainty about its future, Aston Villa Football Club of the English Football Premiership have finally announced a formal takeover of the club. The proposed buyer is a consortium led by American billionaire and owner of the Cleveland Browns of the NFL, Randy Lerner. Lerner's fortune derives from his family interest in the MBNA credit card group.

The offer for Aston Villa values the business at 547p per share or approximately £62,600,000 and fans can be sure that the club's ambitions have been ratcheted higher in one fell swoop.

In the official statement to the London Stock Exchange, the following is stated:

"The Board of Aston Villa believes that backed by Mr Randolph Lerner, owner of the Cleveland Browns Football Club, USA, Aston Villa will again be able to compete at the highest levels within the Premiership and Europe…"

The new investor meanwhile:

"…strongly believes that an integrated approach is required and will be looking to allocate financial resources across multiple fronts such as an upgraded training ground and facilities (which are intended to include the academy), stadium upgrades and player acquisitions, all of which will provide Aston Villa with the opportunity to build upon its existing strong foundations."

The deal will see the departure of long time owner and Chairman, Doug Ellis, from all involvement in the club but he will remain as President Emeritus for life in recognition of his services to the club. Randy Lerner will become Chairman, and the new directors will be General Charles C. Krulak, Robert Kain and Michael Martin.

It seems clear that this takeover, coupled with the recent appointment of Martin O'Neill as manager will represent a substantial and much-needed shot in the arm for the ailing patient that is Aston Villa Football Club. Many punters had the club high on their list of potential relegation candidates at around 7/2 (4.5) last week. Early indications are that those odds have got substantially longer at around 6/1 (7.0) or 7/1 (8.0).

The club were no doubt desperate to ensure things were sorted out prior to the new Premiership season and the team can now enter it with a little more confidence albeit the existing players must surely fear for their futures. It seems inevitable that higher quality players will begin to arrive at the club as Martin O'Neill is given funds to begin the building of a team to match the aspirations being announced.

We therefore do not expect any miracles in the early games of the campaign and Villa will remain long odds on for their opening game at Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium. The next game however will see the first home game, a midweek meeting with Premiership debutants, Reading. The crowd will not tolerate defeat in that one but will at least be reassured that the future looks a lot brighter than it did last week.

Ed note: You can bet on Randy Lerner's Cleveland Browns at BetWWTS.com for a 15% deposit bonus via Neteller

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