villa cut more costs....

[andy villa]

Originally Posted by By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

DAVID O'Leary has been told to carry on grooming Villa's youngsters just as he looks set to lose his chief talent-spotter.

Chief scout Ian Broomfield is believed to be close to finalising a move to Portsmouth with Harry Redknapp keen to prise the former policeman to Fratton Park.

It comes at a time when chairman Doug Ellis has revealed that manager O'Leary kept his job mainly because he has handed the likes of Steven Davis, Luke Moore, Craig Gardner and Gabriel Agbonlahor debuts over the last 18 months.

Ellis believes O'Leary has a knack of unearthing Academy talent and it won him the full support of the board on Monday.

He said: "It was mainly because of his ability to find youngsters who make the first team, and if you look at his history he did exactly the same at Leeds.


"We are not dependent on the youngsters because we are not stupid enough to think you can win matches entirely with youngsters - you've got to have old heads and experienced people alongside you.


"The six that we have put in this season will benefit from this season's experience to such an extent that they will probably be more permanent than they were last season.


"Added to which there are one or two others breathing down the necks of the established first-team players.


"As it happens our youngsters went to Hong Kong this week - hopefully to bring the trophy back that they have won the last two years.


"That is the future but, nevertheless, the manager has to wheel and deal in the market this summer like something like 14 other managers in the Premiership - so let's see what happens."


Ellis has stressed that O'Leary must match a host of so-called lesser clubs next season.


"Money alone does not guarantee success. It never did and it never will. All you have to do is look at so many other smaller clubs who have done so well without any money at all. Look at Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn and others who have spent little or nothing."


The chairman says the manager has got the backing of most of the club's supporters.


"I can assure you I have had as many letters in support of him, as I have had against him. It's the vociferous few that get the publicity because they take the trouble to write in and complain."

Originally Posted by By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

DOUG Ellis is believed to have begun sweeping cost-cutting measures across Villa Park by releasing the club's two doctors, Phil Bickley and Peter Giddings.

And the chairman played down his comments from last week where he hinted that money could be made available in January.

Ellis has to reorganise the club's finances as Villa try to get to grips with a £3million shortfall in their merit award.

He has told manager David O'Leary to sell before he buys and is not willing to make any promises about future funds being made available.

"A week in Parliament is an hour in football. Things change. We are just watching the market," he said.


Ellis admits he is genuinely concerned by Villa's poor form of last season.


"Next season cannot be any worse, it has got to be much better and I am confident it will be much better," he said. "I'm certainly disappointed about the results of last season, of course I am worried.


"But I don't want you to put that in the headlines that the chairman is worried. For God's sake. We were 16th, we lost £3million in merit award money because our budget was on 10th, and rather conservatively so. But two years ago we were sixth.


"I think you will find that next season will be a different scene altogether. Otherwise I wouldn't stay. I am optimistic. I don't want to be pessimistic any more.


"The spirit in the dressing room was good, despite our position. As such I think we will go forward. You will see that by Christmas next year."

useless tosser...

anyone would think we were skint...

oh wait...

[hanuma]

"His knack of finding youngsters...."

Any 12 year old paying Football Manager would recognise the first thing you do is look at the reserve and youth teams for gems, promote them, make some dosh by selling off over the hill, or less talented veterans and waiting until some real cash comes along whilst your talented kids get better and better.....it's the basic premise of 'building a team'.

O'Leary has been handed one of the most productive academies in the land and zero funds elsewhere....what else could he have done? Played himself?

[andy villa]

its like fucking groundhog day i swear...

[andy villa]

with all the cost cutting measures to cover up ellis incompetence, it appears this "no assett strippers" stance of old herbie, really means, "no assett strippers, except me"...

losing money hand over fist and the only way the twat can claim some back to try and not make himself look so fucking stupid and rubbish at what he does is to get rid of silly little things at the club...

like players and backroom staff...

lets keep quiet about the huge fucking salary he pays himself for spending more time in hospital and on holidy than he does anywhere near his office...

but hold the fucking phone, he spends 6 hours a day in his office...

allegedly...

well hoo-fucking-ray...

for the money he pays himself and has taken out of the club, i would expect him to hook himself up to a fucking drip and be sergically attatched to his fucking desk!!

while this fuckwit is in charge, we are doomed...

doomed i tells thee...