Lerner: In for the long haul
Randy Lerner has pledged that he and Martin O'Neill are at Villa "for the long haul" and intend to return the club to the top in England and Europe. Randy Lerner has pledged that he and Martin O'Neill are at Villa "for the long haul" and intend to return the club to the top in England and Europe. Villa's billionaire owner-chairman sees no reason why he won't stay at the club for 10 years - and is convinced manager O'Neill will resist the lure of England and Manchester United, should they come calling. "You can never get in anyone's way. We've talked about this - I got a call from him after England lost on Wednesday," said Lerner. "But Martin will be where he wants to be and he's said he's managing Aston Villa and he's in it for the long haul." Read the full story in the Express & Star
Villa's billionaire owner-chairman sees no reason why he won't stay at the club for 10 years - and is convinced manager O'Neill will resist the lure of England and Manchester United, should they come calling.
"You can never get in anyone's way. We've talked about this - I got a call from him after England lost on Wednesday," said Lerner.
"But Martin will be where he wants to be and he's said he's managing Aston Villa and he's in it for the long haul. I think he'd like to win the league and the European Cup. He did it with a great manager (Brian Clough at Forest) before."
"I don't think in terms of contract Martin sees them as important. We just have to let him do it. If England came calling, I'd acknowledge it, but given the constraints I don't know what I can do - jump on top of him?"
Lerner added: "The best thing I can do is create a compelling opportunity.
"Breaking into the top four I can say is a realistic objective. Clearly supporting the manager financially is absolutely my job. I'm not sure it's as easy to say: 'We're going to put this money in a transfer fund.'
"I think what's interesting is who's spending the money and does that person have a history of putting together players?
"I've funded the signings myself. I have no intention or marker set for when I will stop spending at the club," he said.
Lerner has no plans to sell the naming rights to Villa Park or drastically increase prices. He is also spending £4m re-developing the Holte Hotel and the £8.5m new training complex at Bodymoor Heath is due to be completed in May.