O’Neill schedules Lerner talks

MARTIN O’NEILL is to hold talks this week with new Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner, who has now acquired almost 90% of the club’s shares.

Lerner is jetting in from America to watch tonight’s Carling Cup clash at Scunthorpe and Saturday’s Premiership encounter with Charlton at Villa Park.

O’Neill is to stage discussions with Lerner, the owner of NFL side Cleveland Browns, between the two games.

The Northern Irishman said that the January transfer window — when he hopes to strengthen his squad — will be one of the items on the agenda. Despite Villa’s unbeaten start to the season, O’Neill knows two or three injuries will leave him short of numbers.

Lerner is keen to press on with the £8m (€11.8m) redevelopment of Villa’s training complex and plans to make Villa Park a 50,000-capacity stadium.

O’Neill said: “We are going to sit down on Thursday or Friday and Mr Lerner will outline what he has in mind for the club and hopefully he will listen to what I have to say.

O’Neill admitted: “I do not think for one minute Mr Lerner is going to come and throw money at the club, like Chelsea. That is not in his nature, to be honest.

“Things like the January transfer window will be on the agenda. Just getting some plans up and running will be the most important issue.”

As expected, chairman Doug Ellis and non-executive board members Stephen Kind, Anthony Hales, David Owen and Peter Ellis have resigned, though Steve Stride remains an executive director. Lerner will become the new chairman of Villa along with new non-executive directors General Charles C Krulak, Bob Kain and Michael Martin. By acquiring 90% of the club’s shares, Lerner will be able to compulsorily purchase the remaining 10% before de-listing Villa from the Stock Exchange by mid-October.