Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is as dedicated as ever, insists club's chief executive
The man with the money: Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner[LNB]Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is as 'dedicated as ever' to bringing success to the club despite a lack of investment in new players over the past year.[LNB]That is the belief of Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner, who insists the ambition is still to challenge at the top level both in the Barclays Premier League and Europe.[LNB]Villa have achieved three successive top-six Premier League finishesbut are languishing in the bottom half of the table heading into thefestive period.[LNB]They have not spent any money on new signings in 2010, althoughStephen Ireland was rated at £8million as the makeweight in thepart-exchange deal that saw James Milner move to Manchester City in thesummer.[LNB]But Faulkner is quick to defend Lerner's transfer record. He said:'Randy is as dedicated as he's ever been towards Villa, absolutely.[LNB]'When he bought the club, you knew you were going to have to pay theprice to buy it and then spend on players initially over a number ofyears.[LNB]'We've spent £140million on players and - net - it's still nearly £100 million.[LNB] Battle: Villa beat West Brom in their last Premier League outing[LNB] 'Over the four-and-a-half years Randy has been here, probably only Manchester City have spent more.[LNB]'You've also got to spend on infrastructure which we did with redeveloping Bodymoor Heath [Villa's training ground] and in improving and upgrading parts of Villa Park.'[LNB]Faulkner added: 'There is always an initial period of spending and then it settles down a bit.[LNB]'But the ambition now is the same as it has always been - to be competing at the very highest level in England and Europe.'[LNB] Ruthless Houllier begins cull of stars with Sidwell bound for West HamBasement boys West Ham in advanced talks to sign Villa midfielder SidwellASTON VILLA FC
