Mirror: Liverpool target will not be sold, vows Aston Villa chief

Randy Lerner is adamant Darren Bent will not be sold despite interest from the Reds

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2012-01-07 22:57:02 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Looking around this morning, it's probably best to start with positive injury news, which unfortunately comes almost exclusively in terms of Villa missing players.
It seems that Bent, Heskey, Herd and possibly also Collins are out for Villa.

Liverpool owner John W Henry has dismissed reports that foreign owners are keen to scrap Premier League relegation as "complete nonsense".
League Managers' Association (LMA) chief executive Richard Bevan claimed earlier this week that the English top-flight's American and Asian power holders have discussed the possibility of ending relegation to the Championship, claiming that "particularly American owners without doubt" are keen on the concept.

Liverpool's John W Henry says relegation talk is 'complete nonsense'

• Liverpool owner says scrapping relegation not discussed • LMA chief executive Richard Bevan had highlighted issue The Liverpool owner, John W Henry, has denied that foreign owners in the Premier League want to scrap the relegation and promotion system.

Richard Bevan of England's League Managers Association inadvertently raised the frightening prospect of a breakaway from the Premier League when he mentioned some club owners wanted to do away with promotion to and relegation from the Premier League.

According to League Managers Association (LMA) chief Richard Bevan, several of the foreign-owned Premier League clubs want to do away with relegation.

"We're very keen that the report is successful in helping the Football Association introduce a licensing programme for clubs," Bevan said.

According to League Managers Association (LMA) chief Richard Bevan, several of the foreign-owned Premier League clubs want to do away with relegation.

"We're very keen that the report is successful in helping the Football Association introduce a licensing programme for clubs," Bevan said.

- Jason Davis
The world is abuzz this morning with the shocking revelation that "foreign" English Premier League owners would like to see an end to relegation. Among the league's foreign ownership are several Americans, most notably the Glazers at United, Randy Lerner at Aston Villa, and Fenway Sports Group at Liverpool.

Why Big Eck needs big performances from his strikers to turn Villa around

Alex McLeish is having a tough time at Aston Villa. But it's hard to believe the Villa fans are staying away because it's McLeish, his Birmingham connections or the way they play. It's surely more about the state of the nation.

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AN ASTON VILLA PERSPECTIVE
Many thanks to QPR Reports Maudesfishnchips for conducting this interview. And many thanks to Aston Villa fan, Damian Dugdale http://www.thevillablog.co.uk/
How long have you supported Villa?
All my life
How long have you been involved with your Blog?

In this age, tradition often cedes its elevated status to accommodation. So it was that as the day's West Midlands derby between Aston Villa and Wolverhampton evoked a sense of English footballing tradition just on name alone, it nevertheless had to be played earlier than the more traditional 3 pm time.

... as Lord Sauron of Mordor; and Isildur, High King of Gondor and Arnor, respectively. (Editor's note: Darshan is probably one of the most creative writers to ever write about football, not to mention contribute to AFR. This season, we're letting him go deep into the unknown.

By Paul Wilkes, editor of LaLigaUK

The philosophy of a football club will determine the immediate goals and long-term vision of the club. Within England, this has often been dictated at most sides by the manager. However in recent times as a more continental approach has been inserted by some; others have remained old-fashioned.

The USMNT might finally get someone who can teach them to dive

Sunil Gulati, US Soccer president announces Bob Bradley has been relieved as head coach of the MNT.

"During his time as the head coach of our Men's National Team he led the team to a number of accomplishments, but we felt now was the right time for us to make a change.

Following on from yesterday's look at players moving clubs on a regular basis, it is interesting to look at a couple of those moves retrospectively and ask whether they were the right decision. Darren Bent left a Sunderland side in January, a Sunderland side who have been very busy adding quality to their squad this summer.

By Andrew McCarten

For many, the exit of Martin O'Neill as Aston Villa manager at the beginning of the previous season was the prime reason for their decline. When O'Neill took over for the 2006/07 campaign, Villa had finished a lowly 16th the year before under David O'Leary, managing only 42 points.

Stuart Downing's move from Aston Villa to Liverpool stood on the verge of collapse last night as The Anfield club dug their heels in over the size of the fee.
"Stuart is a full England international with years of top flight experience, we have put a value on him and we will not come down from that" said first team coach Steve Clarke.

Sky Sports sources understand Stewart Downing would prefer to join Liverpool, despite interest from Arsenal, and the deal could be finalized on Monday.
The Aston Villa winger was the subject of a £15million bid from Liverpool on Wednesday, but the offer was immediately rejected by Villa Park owner Randy Lerner.

Alex McLeish

Aston Villa's new boss Alex McLeish is adamant he is the right man for the job.

His appointment sparked protests by Villa fans outside Villa Par, but that doesn't concern McLeish who said:

"Let me prove myself and I will win the fans over. I'm the man for this job.

By Chris Wright

What seemed like a bad dream to most Villa fans is now a reality, and we have the photos to prove it...

Said Eck during the pre-photo presser:

"Let me prove myself and I will win you over. This is not a case of proving the fans wrong, I want to go forward with them and prove I am the man for this job.

I don't know if a player or manager has ever literally been 'unveiled', but I'd love to see it happen once and, given the odd nature of this whole appointment, this would have been an ideal occasion. Can you imagine if a claret & blue chequered sheet was whipped away matador style to reveal the new manager sheepishly sat there waiting for questions?

When Mark Hughes walked out on the Fulham manager's job the popular narrative still holds that he did so the full expectation of being offered the managerial position at Aston Villa it was, as has become abundantly clear since, as massive miscalculation. There were noises at the time that Villa called off talks with Hughes over the way that his departure from Craven Cottage was handled.

By Chris Wright

Things aren't looking too promising for Eck, despite the Beeb reporting that Villa are set to make the announcement that absolutely none of their fans are waiting to hear at some point later today...

In other related news, new Forest boss Steve McClaren has admitted that he had a job interview cancelled by Villa themselves after there was an 'adverse reaction from the fans' to his appointment quite what Randy Lerner and co.

It's hard to know where to begin at the moment, any thought I try to commit to the page risks spiralling into a 5,000 word mess. I'm sure you all have dozens of competing thoughts bouncing around inside your heads too. Whatever ends up here in this post, trust me, I've deleted more than remains.

It's hard to know where to begin at the moment, any thought I try to commit to the page risks spiralling into a 5,000 word mess. I'm sure you all have dozens of competing thoughts bouncing around inside your heads too. Whatever ends up here in this post, trust me, I've deleted more than remains.

The relationship between the second city's two clubs was frosty anyway, but relations between Aston Villa and Birmingham are now enveloped in a full blown arctic winter following the resignation of Alex McLeish from St Andrews.
Given the boards of major football clubs tending to have itchy trigger fingers nowadays it is unusual to feel sorry for them.

You'll already be aware that Aston Villa issued an official statement earlier this evening confirming the intention to interview Alex McLeish. Birmingham City have issued their own statement declaring their intention to take legal action in response.

Both statements in full:

Aston Villa Football Club
This is a message to the fans of Aston Villa.

You'll already be aware that Aston Villa issued an official statement earlier this evening confirming the intention to interview Alex McLeish. Birmingham City have issued their own statement declaring their intention to take legal action in response.

Both statements in full:

Aston Villa Football Club
This is a message to the fans of Aston Villa.

I've managed to post very little on the subject of our manager search; the absence is probably bordering on conspicuous by now despite my distaste for diving into pure speculation. There's nothing sinister about it though, the situation seems to be ever-changing, I'd be writing a half dozen posts a day if I attempted to cover every twist and turn.

I've managed to post very little on the subject of our manager search; the absence is probably bordering on conspicuous by now despite my distaste for diving into pure speculation. There's nothing sinister about it though, the situation seems to be ever-changing, I'd be writing a half dozen posts a day if I attempted to cover every twist and turn.

By Chris Wright

News is filtering through this morning that, even after Birmingham formally refused to accept his resignation last night, Aston Villa have asked their cross-city rivals for permission to open talks with Alex McLeish about taking over at Villa Park.

Birmingham City were shocked today to get an email from Alex McLeish resigning from his position as Birmingham manager:

A statement on the Birmingham website said:

"Birmingham City Football Club can confirm that Alex McLeish has resigned as manager. Acting chairman Peter Pannu received an e-mail resignation from McLeish earlier today while away on business in Amsterdam.

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has reportedly turned down an offer to take over for Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa, opting to remain at DW Stadium for the foreseeable future.

According to reports, Martinez met with Villa's American owner, Randy Lerner, who wanted the 37-year-old Spanish manager and former Wigan player to become his new manager.

Over the past week or so we've had bookies' favourite after bookies' favourite billed as the next Aston Villa manager, only to later be dismissed almost as quickly as they emerged. I could count all the posts on the subject from the various Aston Villa blogs and news outlets I subscribe to, but I'm pretty certain it's easily in triple digits.

Over the past week or so we've had bookies' favourite after bookies' favourite billed as the next Aston Villa manager, only to later be dismissed almost as quickly as they emerged. I could count all the posts on the subject from the various Aston Villa blogs and news outlets I subscribe to, but I'm pretty certain it's easily in triple digits.

A new matador making his way to Aston Villa? Roberto Martinez - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Somewhat ironic that Aston Villa's Hollywood supporter Tom Hanks starred in a film called ‘The Da Vinci Code' where he made more luck at cracking that than he did at predicting the club's new manager.

Surprising developments yesterday when American owner Randy Lerner interviewed a number of candidates for the vacant Aston Villa job. N'Zogbia and Wigan manager Roberto Martinez Two top candidates former England manager Steve McClaren and former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, seemed to have been interviewed and then passed over, as the news this morning is [.

Surprising developments yesterday when American owner Randy Lerner interviewed a number of candidates for the vacant Aston Villa job. N'Zogbia and Wigan manager Roberto Martinez Two top candidates former England manager Steve McClaren and former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, seemed to have been interviewed and then passed over, as the news this morning is [.

Wigan's chairman says he has given Aston Villa permission to speak to Roberto Martinez about Villa managerial opening.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told the Daily Telegraph newspaper's website on Wednesday that Villa wrote to him and asked for permission to talk to Martinez:

"Aston Villa have acted above board and in a totally professional manner," Whelan said.

The bloom may be off the rose for Randy Lerner at Aston Villa, and the ongoing NFL lockout could cause more problems for the Premier League squad. Lerner earned praise from Villa fans when he took over the team in 2006, but after three consecutive...
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