[robaldo]

New Aston Villa chief executive Bruce Langham has indicated manager David O'Leary will have a transfer kitty to dip into in the summer.

Langham had a spell in a similar role at Fulham and is excited at the challenge which lies ahead.

'I can't make any promises to fans other than to say that I think it's generally recognised that we need to strengthen the squad,' he said. 'I'm sure that work will continue throughout the summer. It's our job - the board and the people who work at Villa - to give the fans what they want.

'What they want is for Villa to be a top team that is challenging for a place in the top competition in Europe. That's what we'll be trying to do. What we won't be doing, though, is bankrupting our future.

'This club is very well run at the moment. It's got a very strong balance sheet and there are some great people working here.'

Langham will take up the post on May 10 with Doug Ellis relinquishing the position and continuing as executive chairman of the club.

Ellis said: 'Bruce was top of their original list of recommendations and remained as the outstanding candidate throughout the process.

'He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge from both the business and football worlds and is the unanimous choice of the board of directors.'

Langham will work alongside Ellis on a daily basis at Villa Park.

'My focus is going to be working on creating an atmosphere where everybody is working flat-out to produce revenue,' Langham told the club's official website. 'The more money we bring into the club, the more money we can invest in taking the it forward.

'This is a very big club. We've won the European Cup and we should be up there again challenging. That's what I would like to see us doing.'