Aston Villa did secure an away point at Southampton yesterday, but they also created a new and unwelcome club record of fourteen games without a win. They have spent 105 seasons in the top flight (only Everton have a better record) and relegation would be an unfamiliar experience.
Aston Villa did secure an away point at Southampton yesterday, but they also created a new and unwelcome club record of fourteen games without a win. They have spent 105 seasons in the top flight (only Everton have a better record) and relegation would be an unfamiliar experience.
Their position at the bottom of the Premier League is also making it difficult to sell the club, There was strong interest from both China and the United States, but this has faded since August. It would be difficult to achieve Randy Lerner’s asking price of £150m, reduced from £200m, if the club was relegated. One would then be looking at a different type of buyer who would not be assured of the Premier League’s enhanced broadcasting revenue.
In 2009-10, Villa made a loss of £38m and were spending 88 per cent of turnover on wages. By the time of the last set of accounts in 2013-14, the wage bill had fallen from £80m to £69m, 59 per cent of turnover.
What concerns supporters is that the club could become another Leeds United, Nottingham Forest or Sheffield Wednesday, big clubs that have slipped into the Championship and stayed there.