Randy Lerner, owner of Aston Villa and the Cleveland Browns American football team, conducted a Q&A, via email, with the Cleveland Plain Dealer writer Tony Grossi recently when he made it clear that, despite huge problems with the NFL franchise, he has no intention of selling it.The Browns' record of one win on 10 games this season is causing apoplexy among their disenchanted fans who want Lerner to leave and take coach Eric Mangini with him.
But that is clearly not going to happen because of Lerner's deep desire to turn around the fortunes of an organisation he inherited following his father's death seven years ago.
However, there is a growing mistrust of Lerner among Browns' fans, who believe he is more committed to Aston Villa than he is to them.
He is being called upon to ditch his "soccer" mistress and go back to his US football wife.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa supporters are concerned that the increasingly absent Lerner is spending more time in Ohio and less money backing manager Martin O'Neill.
He has taken to watching Villa games on DVD, whilst fending off the latest batch of hate mail from Cleveland fans.
This situation has even prompted O'Neill to come out fighting on behalf of Lerner this week and insist that the Villa owner remains as committed to the development of the club as he did when he bought out Doug Ellis in 2006.
But, with such a Catch-22 situation for Lerner surely something has to give at some stage. How can he continue to juggle both balls and, when push comes to shove, which will have the greater emotional pull? Few doubt it would be the Browns.
So where does that leave Lerner's involvement with Villa? And why is he apparently still searching for investment from the Middle East that can help take the club to the next stage in their development?
Anyone in the Middle East who wants to become involved with a solvent, well-run and competitive Premier League side, would surely want total control, not a seat in the boardroom.
So for investment, do we read "For Sale?"
Lerner can still make a tidy profit on the £60m he invested in buying the club and he can easily rectify the deficit in transfer trading that he has built up in the last three seasons.
In fact, he could make a quick profit very easily.
There would be no shortage of takers for Ashley Young at about £30m - Manchester United and Chelsea, maybe even Manchester City would all be interested.
Arsenal this week have been linked with Gabriel Agbonlahor and a potential £17m bid for the England striker, so clearly there are assets that can be cashed in.
Starting from scratch again with the Browns next season with a new coach and new general manager, plus the playing-field-levelling draft system gives Cleveland a chance to emerge from the slump.
Unless Villa can locate hefty investment to enable Villa to match competition from Manchester City and Tottenham in the race to break the top four, Lerner may yet decide that ownership of one football club - the American version - may be sufficient for one man.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Interesting read, but clearly written by a yank.
Lerner wont be letting villa go for a while, especially if England get the 2018 World Cup. Villa park will be on of the key venues for the tournament and Lerner will recieve a massive investment from the World Cup Comitee towards redevelopement of the stadium and ground. Something he has been itching to do, and has made no efforts to hide these plans.
I think he may well be seeking fresh investment for the club as his wealth will not cover what we need to break the top 4 monopoly year after year, but Randy has laid the foundations and infrastructure for doing this. I t would be interesting to see what he does 'investment wise' if we crack the top 4 this season. Because if he pumps in another £100m he definately wont be going anywhere for a long time.
Fundamentally though you are right. something has to give between the Browns and Villa. I think it will be an interesting 12 months.
Yawn. Another speculative but well written article built on nothing solid in terms of journalism, purely guess work and assumptions.
MON wouldn't protect Randy, his here to do his job. He would say it as it is and not be told what to say.
He isn't looking for investment in the Far East, not sure why you made that up but that is total and utter tripe. And yes, I am in a position to know as I know the guys in charge at Villa. You could at least get your facts straight before printing what amounts to no more than ill informed supposition. You might file it under Villa, I'd file it under junk.
Lmao @ This
Think we will sell young and agbonlahor just so lerner can make some quick money
This person who wrote this obviously has no clue about English Footabll
Just a article cobbled together from the villa point of view on speculation and a report.
"Meanwhile, Aston Villa supporters are concerned that the increasingly absent Lerner is spending more time in Ohio and less money backing manager Martin O'Neill."
where the hell did you get that from, no Villa forum is saying this at all.
however you are right the Brown's problems are taking up a lot fo Lerner's time but it is great to have a club wthout an interferring owner.
Besides when the NFL season finishes in January I reckon Randy will then have the time to fly out.
Anyone reading this - and that includes curious/hopeful/desperate Man City fans following a link off Bluemoon - let me assure you that absolutely NO Villa fans I know have concerns about Randy Lerner. This is quite clearly an article designed to stir and rock the boat. Believe you me, Villa are going to be back at the very top of the pile very soon, regardless of the deluded witterings of a Yank/Cockney who has absolutely no idea what the Chairman of Aston Villa is up to.
Speaking for myself, I am very confident that O'Neill and Lerner will build a very successful club at Villa Park.
As for Villa cashing in on the players you have mentioned? Sir, you are living in cloudcuckooland!! No wonder Randy Lerner doesn't speak to the press - what's the point when they just make absolute rubbish up? Keep stirring boys...you won't derail England's greatest club.