Aston Villa fans tell Randy Lerner to wrap up quick sale

The Aston Villa Supporters Trust (AVST) have also backed Lerner's decision to put the claret and blues on the market. The owner is asking for around £200m for the club he bought for £62.6m in 2006.

The American was due to meet manager Paul Lambert and chief executive Paul Faulkner this week to outline a short-term summer plan while a buyer is found.

A Trust statement read: "We would ask that the sale is completed as quickly as possible in order that the new owner can put his team in place, and make the required changes to ensure that Aston Villa become a competitive force on the field again."

The Trust also thanked Lerner for his work over the past eight years and they have asked fans to complete a survey so they can provide feedback to the new owners.

"We would like to place on record our gratitude for all he has done with regards to the infrastructure of the club and his significant investment in Aston Villa over the past eight years," they wrote. "We are sure all Villa supporters appreciate the great respect he has shown for the club's traditions and heritage during his time here."

"We are also sure that, with this in mind, he will make it a consideration of the utmost importance that these traditions should continue to be respected by whomever he passes his custodianship to.

"While we understand that the ownership situation will doubtless be at the forefront of everyone's mind at this time, we are calling on all our members and the wider Villa supporter base to notify us of their views so that we can provide clear guidance to the new Aston Villa custodians on what supporters expect."

You can find the survey at http://villatrust.org.uk/