Chinese consortium lines up Aston Villa bid
A DEAL to sell Aston Villa could be just days away – with a Chinese consortium thought to be the main contender for new owner.
Reports in The Mirror said a Hong Kong-based consortium is close to agreeing a £75m deal with the Villa board and owner Randy Lerner, although the club has made no official comment.
The report claims the new owners, named as the Rui Kang Group, would want former Spurs and Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli place in charge of the club.
If the deal goes through then Comolli could lead football operations as the club looks to make a swift exit from the Championship back to the Premier League.
The club – and its supporters – have been forced to endure a dire season which has seen the team compile just 17 points during the season, during which time it has also dispensed with the services of two managers.
The club is currently without a manager, although this is of less significance since the season ends of Sunday with a daunting trip to the Emirates Stadium to face an Arsenal team still gunning for second spot in the league.
The most recent comment from the club came on Friday when executive chairman Steve Hollis sought to appease fans by saying the club remained in talks over a possible deal.
How the fans will react to the deal should it come off remains to be seen.
However, many will be wary of having Chinese investors because of what has happened on the other side of the city at St Andrew’s.
Much will depend on who the new manager is and that appointment will be critical to the club’s success.
Most candidates appear to have distanced themselves from the job until the ownership issue is resolved but whoever takes on the role will face a daunting task.
Nevertheless, if the takeover leads to on-field success and a return to the top flight of English football then most won’t mind where the money comes from.
The possible deal also indicates the growing appeal of the English game to the Chinese and Asian markets – near-rival West Bromwich Albion last week announced a new shirt sponsorship deal with an Asian gambling business.
