American owner Randy Lerner has confirmed that he has put
Aston Villa up for sale.
Lerner bought Villa from Doug Ellis in 2006 but there has
been uncertainty over his future throughout a difficult campaign which ended in
a lowly 15th-place finish after Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
And Lerner has now declared that he believes it is the
right moment for the club to sell and look for new owners who can push them
forward.
In a statement published on the club's website, Lerner
said: "I feel that now is the time for me to look for new ownership and
thus new leadership.
"Several weeks back I said that following the end of
the season I would clarify my future role with the club and address what had
become seemingly constant rumours of a sale.
"I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh,
invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job.
"I have asked the world of (manager) Paul Lambert
and (chief executive) Paul Faulkner and they have both delivered selflessly.
"On a personal level it is time for me to get on
with other aspects of my career, following a sale.
"On a practical level, the club will continue with
its normal operations and plans for the summer.
"I've no doubt that the core staff at both Villa
Park and BMH (Bodymoor Heath Training Ground), to whom I owe a massive debt of
friendship and loyalty, will continue to guide and protect the club through
this period of transition according to their collective sense of professional
pride and long term service to Villa.
"Finally, in light of the above, I have engaged Bank
of America Merrill Lynch to advise on the sale of Aston Villa."
Lerner, who owns NFL franchise Cleveland Browns, paid
£60m for the club in 2006 and has since invested £200m.
For three successive seasons under manager Martin O'Neill
- through to May 2010 - Villa finished sixth in the Premier League table,
before slipping three spots the following campaign.
However, each of the last three have witnessed tense
battles to avoid relegation with finishes of 16th-15th-15th.
After eight years owning a high-profile club in the
United Kingdom, Lerner admitted that his time in football has become increasingly
difficult, adding: "I have come to know well that fates are fickle in the
business of English football.
"And I feel that I have pushed mine well past the
limit. The last several seasons have been week-in, week-out battles and having
now come through this last season unfortunately limping amidst very meaningful
injuries and constant sale rumours."
Back in August 2006, shortly after purchasing the
Villans, Lerner said: "It is my belief that Aston Villa can compete at the
highest level within the Premiership and in Europe."
The high spot was reaching the final of the League Cup in
2010 when, under O'Neill, they lost 2-1 at Wembley to Manchester United.
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