Aston Villa have reached agreement for American billionaire Randy Lerner to take control of the Premiership club.

The battle to take control of Aston Villa is expected to intensify in the next few days despite the club showing a £8.2m (€12.2m) pre-tax loss for the year ending May 31, 2006.

New Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is stepping up his efforts to sign Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov before the Premiership campaign gets underway on August 19.

Martin O’Neill has insisted it will “take time” to win back all the Aston Villa supporters disillusioned with recent events at the midlands club.

Aston Villa have confirmed Martin O’Neill as their new manager.

Martin O’Neill is on the verge of becoming Aston Villa’s new manager.

MARTIN O’NEILL is set to announce today whether he has decided to become Aston Villa’s new manager.

Martin O’Neill is set to announce tomorrow whether he has decided to become Aston Villa’s new manager.

Two of the consortiums interested in buying Aston Villa may join forces to try and win the takeover battle.

RANDY LERNER’S re-emergence as a major contender to buy Aston Villa could pave the way for Martin O’Neill to be appointed manager sooner rather than later.

ASTON VILLA are hoping to revive negotiations with American billionaire Randy Lerner regarding a possible takeover of the midlands club.

Aston Villa shareholders and fans have hit out at chairman Doug Ellis after American billionaire Randy Lerner pulled out of his bid to buy the midlands club.

Michael Neville has claimed he has “someone lined up” to replace David O’Leary, with Martin O’Neill his number-one choice, if his consortium takes control at Aston Villa.

LIFE-LONG fan Michael Neville’s hopes of his consortium taking control of Aston Villa have been boosted by the apparent withdrawal from the bidding of American billionaire Rady Lerner.

THE consortium fronted by life-long Aston Villa fan Michael Neville have submitted their bid — believed to be worth around £64 million — to buy the midlands club.

Life-long fan Michael Neville’s hopes of his consortium taking control of Aston Villa have been boosted by the apparent withdrawal from the bidding of American billionaire Rady Lerner.

The consortium fronted by lifelong Aston Villa fan Michael Neville have submitted their bid – believed to be worth around £64m (€93.63m) – to buy the midlands club.

American billionaire Randy Lerner’s financial clout seems likely to give him the edge over Birmingham businessman Michael Neville in the race to buy Aston Villa.

MARTIN O’Neill has been tipped to restore Aston Villa to former glories if he replaces David O’Leary as manager by former Leicester midfielder Muzzy Izzet.

Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis has held initial discussions with American billionaire Randy Lerner over a possible takeover of the club.

CLEVELAND Browns owner Randy Lerner — who is reportedly preparing a takeover of Premiership club Aston Villa — is “exploring” business interests in England, according to the National Football League team.

Billionaire Randy Lerner, who owns the franchise to NFL side Cleveland Browns, is believed to be preparing to enter the race to buy Aston Villa.

Michael Neville is renewing his bid to buy Aston Villa and admitted it would be “fantastic” if Martin O’Neill succeeded David O’Leary as manager.

The consortium bidding to take control of Aston Villa admit the struggle to provide David O’Leary with a substantial transfer kitty has been a key reason behind the stop-start nature of their takeover attempt.

Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis has reiterated his commitment to reaching a “prudent and positive outcome” to the takeover talk surrounding the club.

THE consortium hoping to take control of Aston Villa remain “very optimistic” they can take charge of the midlands club sooner rather than later.

THE takeover of Aston Villa football club by a group of Irish investors is beginning to look increasingly unlikely.

Aston Villa fans and shareholders are “baffled” by the club’s failure to retain the services of midfielder Eirik Bakke for the remainder of the season.

The Irish consortium bidding to take control of Aston Villa have indicated the next 48 hours are crucial to their hopes of succeeding.

The consortium striving to buy Aston Villa have rubbished reports the £64m (€93m) bid for the midlands club has collapsed.

Aston Villa Shareholders’ Association chairman Jonathan Fear has claimed the current state of uncertainty over the future of the midlands club is “unhealthy for everyone at the club”.

The Irish consortium proposing to take over Aston Villa have revealed discussions are ongoing as they attempt to conclude a £64m (€93m) deal.

Aston Villa players have given their backing to the proposed £64m (€93.3m) takeover bid by an Irish consortium which could be completed in the next few days.

Doug Ellis has been assured by the consortium aiming to take control of Aston Villa that they will not asset-strip the club if they move into power.

Chairman Doug Ellis insists he must be satisfied any would-be buyers of Aston Villa are “the right people to take the club forward” before he relinquishes control.

The leading Aston Villa supporters’ group has urged any bidder for the club to consult fans before any takeover.

Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 1

TWO Irish brothers are set to complete a £64 million (€94 million) takeover of English Premiership club Aston Villa this week after seeing off Russian competition.