Aston Villa crisis: '500 jobs to go as third of workforce' face axe at relegation club
A third of the workforce at Aston Villa Football Club, almost 500 workers, face the axe, according to union bosses.
The relegated Premier League club has around 1,600 employees across its departments.
But under an ongoing restructure, union bosses say staff have been told a third of workers will be axed.
The cuts will impact all areas, including merchandise and match day.
Lee Barron, regional secretary of the TUC, said he was helping workers who were affected by the restructure. He said a decision on which workers were to leave was 'imminent'.
He said: "It's a great shame for the hundreds of staff who care passionately about the club."
An Aston Villa Football Club spokesman would not comment on the suggested number of staff to be made redundant.
He said: "Aston Villa Football Club can confirm it has updated all staff on the proposed changes to the club structure in order to put it back on a firm footing.
"These changes will result in a headcount reduction but every effort will be made through a voluntary scheme, to mitigate as much as is possible, the need for compulsory redundancies.
"The objective is to secure a sound financial platform from which the club can rebuild for the benefit of the fans, staff and sponsors.
"We recognise this is an extremely difficult time for all staff and the club will offer support to all staff affected."
