Birmingham City and Aston Villa: Complete contrast between chairman

May 9 2009 By Mat Kendrick

Lerner strikes a neat balance between attempting to answer questions candidly and remaining in his favoured role of modest yet enthusiastic amateur.

Conspiracy theorists peddling rumours about his money drying up or the owner losing interest should not take encouragement from his quietness because Lerner’s actions have always spoken louder than his words.

But having taken significant strides during his and O’Neill’s brief tenure, Villa now stand at the biggest crossroads the Midlands has seen since Benny was the star of a soap set in a flimsy-wall motel.

Having dallied with the Champions League places only to fall short at the crucial stage, the claret and blue faithful need to be reassured that if they miss out next season it will not be for the want of trying.

And the voice that needs to tell them louder and clearer than ever before is that of the secret billionaire.