[英超]阿士東維拉班主證實球會將被出售 [復制鏈接]

Aston Villa: Owner Randy Lerner puts club up for sale



Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has announced that the Premier League club is being put up for sale.
The American assumed control of Villa in 2006 after a £62.6m takeover was agreed with the club's board.
"I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job," he said on Monday.
Villa finished the 2013-14 season in 15th position, five points above the relegation zone.
Their Premier League status was only secured with victory over Hull City on 3 May and the future of manager Paul Lambert remains uncertain.
Lerner had said last month that he would address speculation regarding his own future at the club in the summer.
In a statement issued on Monday morning, the owner said he had engaged Bank of America Merrill Lynch to advise on the club's sale.

"I have come to know well that fates are fickle in the business of English football. And I feel that I have pushed mine well past the limit," he said.
"The last several seasons have been week in, week out battles and having now come through this last season unfortunately limping amidst very meaningful injuries and constant sale rumours,
I feel further that now is the time for me to look for new ownership and thus new leadership."
He added: "I am appreciative of the support I have received, even in these last years of comparative struggle when criticism was due,
and will look on with others - with fingers crossed - for stronger future performance appropriate to our size and heritage."

News of the sale was revealed by BBC reporter Pat Murphy, who said the likely asking price would be about £200m - which is £100m less than Lerner's estimated total investment in the club.
Murphy also disclosed the involvement of investment banker Keith Harris, who did the deal in 2006 to bring Lerner to Aston Villa.
"My understanding is Randy Lerner won't sell Aston Villa unless Keith Harris gives him the say-so, such is his respect for Keith Harris," Murphy told BBC Radio 5 live.
"I believe this will move fairly quickly. But don't forget, you're looking at £200m, plus in my opinion £100m for players to save Villa from their annual flirtation against relegation
and one of these days they will drop off the edge unless this is sorted out. And where are the multi-billionaires around who would go for what is now, a middle-ranking club in the Premier League?

"I'm not sure it's that attractive a prospect now. I don't believe it's going to be that easy to sell Aston Villa to Randy Lerner's satisfaction."
Villa were sixth three seasons running under manager Martin O'Neill, but have only finished in the top half of the table once in the four campaigns since his resignation.
Lambert, who replaced fellow Scot Alex McLeish, joined from Norwich City two years ago and described keeping the club up this season as "an incredible achievement".
"It needs investment, it's simple," Lambert said after the 3-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday. "It smacks you right in the face what the team needs. That's the bottom line."


http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27372342

英超一完咁多新聞

有機重生

阿士東維拉被掛牌出售

【now.com體育】阿士東維拉班主連拿於英國時間周一宣佈將球隊掛牌出售，勢將結束維拉近8年的統治。

現任英超球會阿士東維拉班主的美國商人連拿（Randy Lerner）在周一發表聲明，表示將會把球會的擁有權掛牌出售：
「我認為自己已經無法擔任班主的工作，為了讓維拉繼續前進，我希望為球會尋找新的投資者入主。」
維拉被放售的消息近月在國內不斷傳出，而連拿早前亦表示過將會在今年夏天決定會否繼續擔任維拉的班主。

連拿在2006年以超過6200萬英鎊收購阿士東維拉，期間一直緊縮球隊開支，近年來不斷賣走球隊主力，
年前更曾經要求時任領隊麥利殊將球員的平均周薪由原先的57000鎊減至46000鎊，令球隊的競爭力大不如前。

維拉今季在英超僅得37分排第15位完成，比起排第18的降班球隊諾域治僅多5分，
直至本月3日擊敗侯城後才宣佈護級成功，而領隊林拔來季會否繼續執教維拉，仍然是未知之數。

75M歐羅倒買番黎...200M賣...都賺唔少