Tim's Out - Is It Time For Thinking Out The Real Solution?

I've today seen a blogger write: ”It would be nice if the club were run better.” 

That statement (in relation to Aston Villa FC) is possibly the greatest euphemism ever uttered.

This is the key issue – it’s not really about anything else. Its the ownership that have been directing things in such a way that none of the managers have been able to do what they wanted to do. You can’t have 3 managers in 4 years all not totally fit for the job, surely?

The scenario now is not that different from how it was in the 60s. Then we got relegated and spent 8 years getting back to the top.

Haven’t we learnt?

But as far as this owner is concerned, I have utter disrespect having now seen what disaster upon disaster he’s been inflicting on the club.

I’m afraid I must again recall the spin that appeared shortly after Lerner’s arrival. The slogan was “Great history … Bright Future!” – or words to that effect.

Whatever the misdemeanours MON perpetrated in his spending pattern, a new owner coming into Aston Villa FC should have realised that his word had to be his bond to keep the fans of this great club on his side – particularly in view of his promise.

With no “Bright Future” he’s turned out the lights, and it’s difficult to see how they can be switched back on again.

And while we keep on talking about team managers and their merits or demerits, we are mis-using our energy and missing the plot. We’ve been taken in hook line and sinker; we claim to be fans of a great club, but choose to ignore the real problem.

“It would be nice if the club were run better.” My goodness: the club has to be run better – otherwise we’ll never see another cup final win nor even a 6th place in the Premier League.

A new - and proper - owner for the club is an a priori requirement. Anything else is secondary in my view. I dream of a fans' ownership, but maybe that's just star-gazing. But what I am most worried about is that just as Doug found the current owner, we may find that Randy finds the person he likes. That could just mean further disaster.