Consortium ‘optimistic’ on Villa bid

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

Irish property developers the Comer brothers and consortium front -man Michael Neville are holding a meeting with their bankers in the early part of this week with a view to putting funds in place for a takeover to be launched.

Villa have lost patience with the long drawn-out nature of the bid and on Friday appointed financial advisors Rothschild to seek a buyer, with chairman Doug Ellis having made it clear the time is right to sell.

But the Comers and Neville are pushing ahead with their attempt to take charge of Villa and end Ellis’ two-decade reign.