Source: Daily_Mail
The Midlander: Villa fans must not doubt 64-carat owner Lerner... he does care
If I owned a cap, I'd be doffing it in the direction of Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner.[LNB]'Does he still care?' they asked.[LNB]'He's fed up with his plaything,' they claimed.[LNB]Well, yes, he does still care. And no, he is still fully committed to making Aston Villa a success.[LNB]I mean... wow! A £24million commitment in transfer fees, not to mention a contract worth in excess of £15m on the club's record transfer signing Darren Bent.[LNB] Statement of intent: Villa fans will be delighted to see new signing Darren Bent training for the first time since his £24million arrival[LNB]While we are at it, Jean Makoun's signing, from Lyon is another major outlay, a £5m fee and all the associated salary costs.[LNB](I understand too, that it may not be the last. Although Villa say there is no interest in Wigan Athletic left-back Maynor Figueroa, the rumour-mill is awash with suggestions that a £4m bid is in the offing.) [LNB]Whatever the outcome of the next fortnight before the window closes, the statement from Lerner could not have been more emphatic.[LNB] More from Neil Moxley... The Midlander: Any more of this and Villa will slide out of the trapdoor06/01/11 The Midlander: Winter of discontent beckons for Birmingham City16/12/10 The Midlander: Gerard Houllier is left fighting a losing battle after his own goal at Anfield10/12/10 The Midlander: Carling Cup win would be FAN-tastic but try telling McLeish02/12/10 The Midlander: Nigel Clough may be the son of Brian but he's his own man25/11/10 THE MIDLANDER: Forget United... England's real academy is at Villa18/11/10 The Midlander: Billy's done a good job at Forest but he's playing a risky game11/11/10 THE MIDLANDER: The new, exciting Houllier looks a lot like the old dull one03/11/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE First, that we don't want to go down. Secondly, that I back Gerard Houllier.[LNB]And really, how lucky is the Frenchman? My last Midlander column upset the hierarchy at Villa Park. I'm sorry about the fact they were brassed off, but perhaps it was a natural consequence of the drip, drip, drip of negativity over the past four months.[LNB]It wasn't written out of malice. More out of a sense of duty to supporters who clearly felt so strongly after the Sunderland game that they called for their own manager's head.[LNB]As a subjectivist, am I meant to ignore that? Furthermore, do you know what? That last piece was read over 10,000 times on this site. I'm lucky enough to have a few twitter followers too.[LNB]And I can't even remember one supporter who moaned that I had been out of order. Which probably makes Lerner's actions all the more creditable. He's stuck to his guns and backed his man.[LNB]And how. Villa lie 17th in the Barclays Premier League table and, basically, Houllier has been handed a get-out-of-jail free card. Sorry, a get-out-of-jail for £50m card.[LNB]Never mind what has passed before. Rows, ostracised players, poor results, etc.[LNB]Never mind the fact that I understand the chief executive, Paul Faulkner, has been acting in a calm and composed manner in trying to smooth the ruffled feathers of one or two of the disgruntled players.[LNB]That's really good, solid, management. Evidence that Faulkner is really growing into his job in a mature manner.[LNB]And as for former boss Martin O'Neill, I wondered what he was thinking this week when he learnt that Lerner had reached for his chequebook again.[LNB]I mean, I had a chuckle when he was linked with David Sullivan and David Gold.[LNB]I wish I had the time and inclination to lay that particular bet. Nil chance of working for that pair for any significant length of time. Not a prayer.[LNB] Under the spotlight: Villa boss Gerard Houllier was given the backing of the board with the club's capture of Bent [LNB]Anyway, I digress. Was it really only six months ago that there was a 'we must make ends meet,' diktat issued at the Holte pub? [LNB]You know, it reminds me of that tale - I'm sure it's apocryphal - but one day a bloke in a spanking new Range Rover goes shopping. It's really busy in the town centre and he can't find anywhere to park for love nor money.[LNB]Eventually, after a 15-minute search, he spies a free car parking space. He shapes up to reverse into it. But before he can do so, an old mini roars in from nowhere and beats him to it.[LNB]Triumphant, the driver of the old heap sticks his head out of the window and taunts the bloke in the Range Rover.[LNB]'That's what you can do when you can drive,' shouts the driver who then gets out and walks ten yards away from his car to the shops.[LNB]Suddenly, the man in the Range Rover slams his own car in reverse, smashes into the mini, shunting it out of the space.[LNB]He winds down his own window and says: 'That's what you can do when you're rich.'[LNB]I think it's a little bit like that with O'Neill. Houllier is now receiving the backing the Irishman might well have received from Lerner had he played the game a tad cuter.[LNB]But talk about backing your manager. Phew. I think it's unprecedented, given[LNB] Cue applause: Randy Lerner proved he cares about Aston Villa with his expensive outlays this week[LNB] the amount of trouble Villa are in, if you look at the current Barclays Premier League table.[LNB]I'm not going to be so hypocritical as to say now that Houllier is the best thing since sliced bread because there's a good chance that results will improve thanks to the acquisition of a £24m forward.[LNB]But it's a fact that barring two players - the full-backs - the team that should have carried a victory back to Aston on Sunday was choc-ful of the players left behind by O'Neill.[LNB]It's also a fact that Randy Lerner continues to show his deep-rooted affection and care for his club that he has gone to such lengths to ensure survival.[LNB]Look at that snap-shot at Stamford Bridge when Ciaran Clark's late equaliser went in and Lerner was jumping around like he was in the middle of the Holte End, even though a bit of decorum is usually called for in the directors' box. He cares all right.[LNB]Let's face it Villa fans, if you want a look at how not to act during the transfer window, you need only look over at St Andrew's and have a chortle. But that's another story.[LNB] Onwards and upwards: Villa, who held champions Chelsea twice this season, now need to push on and revive their season[LNB]I fully expect a fresh air of optimism to be around Villa Park come 5.30pm on Saturday evening. Villa Park, under lights, is always atmospheric.[LNB]I've used this pay-off line before. But, as Doug Ellis used to say when I moaned he was repeating the same message to the fans over and again: 'Neil, you need to remind people every three months of the obvious, or else they will take it for granted.' [LNB]If Villa Park can't find it within itself to cheer Houllier - then they can prevent themselves from charges (like me) of hypocrisy by backing someone else, because he really deserves the thanks.[LNB]So step forward Randy Lerner - the sixty-four carat owner.[LNB] Treachery! Raging Bruce vents his fury as Villa clinch £24m swoop for BentDarren Bent to Aston Villa: Is £24m the price of survival for Houllier's men?MARTIN SAMUEL: Darren Bent at £24m is mad, but more fun than common senseAll the latest Aston Villa news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: Darren Bent, David Gold, Doug Ellis, Gerard Houllier, David Sullivan Places: Lyon
