Aston Villa deny 'for sale' rumours

Villa today rejected claims they have been put up for sale.

The claret and blues have rubbished reports they are on the market and chairman Randy Lerner wants to sell.

Lerner bought Villa for £62.6m in 2006 and was reportedly looking for £200m to get some money back from his £250m investment, including transfer fees and upgrades to Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath.

But Villa have distanced themselves and insisted Lerner is not looking to leave.

Chief executive Paul Faulkner said: "I can categorically confirm Aston Villa Football Club has absolutely not been put up for sale and that Randy Lerner is not actively looking to sell the club."

The speculation came after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Everton as Villa conceded twice in the last 16 minutes to lose at Goodison Park.

Kevin Mirallas' late winner won it for the Toffees after Steven Naismith cancelled out Leandro Bacuna's first-half opener.

Boss Paul Lambert said: "Since the turn of the year we've been in pretty good form.

"I think tiredness crept in and it's a wonder goal which has settled it."

"I thought we were comfortable in the game and in the first half we never looked under threat at all.

"The first goal was really poor from our point of view. The second goal you have to hold your hand it. "It was a world-class free-kick and we can't do anything about that but I don't think we deserved to lose the game."