Tony Xia: Carson Yeung comparison offends me

Prospective new owner Tony Xia has told concerned Villa supporters not to worry about his finances and hit out at those comparing his takeover with Carson Yeung's buy-out of Birmingham City.

Xia's background and business portfolio have both come under scrutiny since his proposed £75million purchase of the claret and blues was announced last week.

But in his latest round of interviews, the 39-year-old sought to set the record straight while bristling at suggestions his takeover could be compared to that of Yeung, which ended with Blues in financial disarray and Yeung in jail after being convicted of money laundering.

Xia said: "Don't put my name with him (Yeung). It offends me. We are two different worlds."

Doubts have been cast on Xia's true wealth after it emerged his Recon Group only own a controlling stake in one listed company and not five, as first claimed in an official Villa statement.

Xia, whose takeover is being checked over by the Football League and Premier League, blamed the mix-up on a 'miscommunication' and insisted he has the resources to fund both a purchase of the club and his ambitious aims of making Villa one of Europe's best.

"We have a deposit of more than £100million in an account in England, so don't worry about that," he said. "I'm not a person who wants to be public, that is for sure. But I will make it my responsibility to get the club back on track."

Xia stated his intention to have a new manager in place within the next couple of days, with either Nigel Pearson or Roberto Di Matteo set to be offered the role.

"That is the first thing we have to do," he said.