Does anyone else think that Aston Villa might end up being absolutely screwed in the long run? These owners have spent over £400M now to have a midtable Premier League team. Having Dean Smith as their manager tells you everything about the regime. The Champions League regulars are almost impossible to overtake so at what point do these lot give up on Villa and leave them in the sh*t? It's more common than not that billionaire takeovers end up in tears - Newcastle, Monaco and Malaga all examples of clubs who owners backtracked into mediocrity.
The accounts for the football club (which exclude both the ground and the players as assets) show £290m injected as share capital since takeover which has been used to fund the losses of £235m and the £156m spent on players to May 2020. No external debt The accounts for the Topco which has the above assets show no external debt and increased share capital-the notes say another £87m injected by share capital since May 20-presumably to help pay for another £100m+ spend on players and the covid related impact on overall revenue for last season
Ok thanks so it's in as capital so no real risk to the club if the owners get bored and want out - nothing due to be repaid to them, nothing owed by the club. So absolutely no chance that "..... Aston Villa might end up being absolutely screwed in the long run....."
I don't think they are questionable, just egregiously wealthy. Boring way to become successful mind, if they ever get there
The club being debt free today isn't the point, having an unsustainable wage bill and money owed to other clubs is the problem. Who pays for it when the owners realise they're p*ssing away money and refuse to invest more? That's when the debt starts to build up. It will be an interesting one to watch over the next few seasons as I can't recall the last time an English club chased the dream so aimlessly.
Same wage bill as West Ham, marginally more than Palace and a number of saleable assets. Given they are currently debt free they really haven’t got a problem even if the owners pulled out. We are more likely to go bust than they are.
I think the Premier League is better off for having a few powerful clubs away from London and the North West. Who better than Aston Villa? A club in the second biggest conurbation in the land. Rich in history and tradition, winners of all the great club competitions, and once managed by God himself. My first home match ever was our win against Tommy Docherty’s Aston Villa, our first win in the second division. Later I lived in Birmingham, and went to Villa Park to watch matches in the early 1980s. So I have maybe a rosy view of the club. But long may it prosper. And long that we stay in the same division as them.
Hear, hear. Only those with short memories think Aston Villa are not a big club. Villa Park is also a great football ground.
Moshiri definitely one to watch too, but he comes across as quite genuine and has shown huge commitment with building Everton a new stadium.
