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The Irish consortium interested in taking over Aston Villa insist that the deal is still on despite reports that they do not have enough money to complete it. There has been speculation that the consortium is about £10 million short of the £64 million asking price. However, sources close to property magnates Brian and Luke Comer insisted that they were still talking. Chairman Doug Ellis has said that he will sell if the price is right.
And Then Off Again...But Club Still Up For Sale
21/01/2006 - Talks with the consortium seeking to buy Aston Villa have not come to a conclusion and the club has been put up for sale. NM Rothschild have been appointed as advisers. Irish property millionaires Luke and Brian Comer are still possible buyers. The club has held discussions with their vehicle, Aston Villa Investments, and has stated that 'if converted into a firm offer, the board of Aston Villa would recommend the proposal to shareholders.' However, the board added that it had 'not been provided with evidence of AVI's financial ability to proceed with an acquisition.' Aston Villa shares closed unchanged at 442.5p on Friday, valuing the club at £51m, compared with a high of 510p reached last October when bid speculation was at its height. The club is currently 15th in the Premiership. It was second in the Premiership in its first season in 1992-3 and won the League Cup in 1994 and 1996, but its last major trophy was in 1982 when it won the European Cup. That it is a tempting prospect is shown by the fact that the News of the World was able to convince Sven Goran Eriksson that an Arab sheikh was interested in the Midlands club.
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