Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner lays down his long-term commitment to the club

May 16 2010 by Andy Walker, Sunday Mercury

Randy Lerner

OWNER Randy Lerner his re-iterated his commitment to the long-term project at Villa – no matter what damage the global financial crisis brings.

Like most international businessmen, former credit card boss Lerner admits that he’s been hit hard by the recession.

That will have contributed towards the belt-tightening and the sell-to-buy policy that will dictate Villa’s dealings in the transfer market this summer.

In a week when Lerner admitted that he wouldn’t be prepared to splash out £30 million on a much-needed marquee signing for Martin O’Neill’s squad, some fans may have questioned his commitment to the vision to bring greatness back to Villa.

However, while the financial outlook of the Premier League may have changed dramatically in the near four years he’s owned Villa, Lerner insists that he’s still in it for a long run.

And he’s quick to shoot down any who doubt his pledge to the claret and blue cause.

“I have the same financial substance I had when I got here and I’m prepared to give that assurance,” the American insisted.

“You’ve got countries going out of business, so it’s a fair question. The financial crisis, broadly speaking, certainly impacted me and us as a family but it has no bearing on the wherewithal or ability or commitment to work with Aston Villa and pursue what we want to pursue.

“And if I felt the financial crisis had impacted my ability to go forward I would admit it and make plans to deal with it.

“I would like to think I would not be the kind of person to not say it and then have to go to sleep at night saying: ‘how do I live this lie?’

“Can I say: ‘Yes, we have the financial wherewithal to stay involved with Aston Villa and continue to grow the club and realise our ambitions?’ Yes I can.”