Tom Fox recently addressed the Aston Villa Supporters Trust yesterday and addressed a few key questions and issues that have risen through media over the past several weeks, or months. Firstly, Fox spoke about Villa’s transfer policy and claimed that Tim Sherwood did have a final say and could veto any transfer movement. There was a committee of Sherwood, Paddy Riley and Tom Fox, and the trio identified aspects of the squad that needed improvement. Fox also claimed this is how all clubs approach transfers and Aston Villa were no exception.
Hendrik Almstadt’s role was also clarified as some media reports claimed that he was in charge of money-ball transfer tactics. Fox claimed that Almstadt does a the same role as he did at Arsenal, which was to support the first team and any side affairs. Specifically, Almstadt has successful resolved a medical team issue that was existent at Aston Villa.
Fox also admitted that it was Villa’s mistake to let Delph’s contract run til it’s final year. While also claiming that he expects Garde to do better with the current crop of players, but didn’t rule out recruiting new players to the team.
And lastly, supporters asked about Lerner’s claim in June that if he failed to sell the club that there would be a new chairmen. Fox has said that there will soon be a new appointment of a chairman, along with a new board member.
What’s the point if he’s still Lerner’s man??? Bets on Eddie Large getting the job???
Will this chairman have the final say???I doubt it.what’s the FUCKING point???Will he attend all our fixtures unlike Ebenezer???
At least Scrooge saw the error of his ways. I doubt our myopic owner has that ability.
Very true.
I think the point is Giddy, as was discussed in previous posts, we are heading into the abyss as we’re so badly run. As the Head of a primary school, I have little knowledge about how the private sector runs. Perhaps someone could explain and clarify the difference between a CEO (Fox) and the role that a Chairman would have? It’s clear that we are in a mess and almost certain to be playing Championship football next season. To have any chance of clearing debts we need a more rigid but effective structure behind the scenes before the playing side will improve. Obviously that’s of no interest to us as fans because the sole purpose of any club is to win football matches – something that we’ve been unable to do for 129 days in the league (and counting!!). Tom Fox spoke to the AVST but why not agree to an interview which would be shown/printed with someone who’s actually going to ask challenging questions not filtered by the club? The silence, once again, is deafening.
In the private sector currently the Chairman is a non-executive role. To use your own example: as Head you are the CEO of the school, but you have a Chairman of the School Governors who is a non-exec, but the Governors hold you to account for the performance of the school.
A football club is an odd business which does not fit easily into the mould. The board represents the shareholders and the senior permanent employees (not players nor the manager) who are directors. I suppose the Chairman is custodian of the ethos and aims of the club. He allows the CEO to set the performance targets, and ensures that the CEO reports to the board how those targets are being met. The role takes on it most critical aspect when the CEO reports failure to achieve targets, in that the chairman directs the board in its consideration of replacing the CEO, if it is seen as his fault.
Randy’s ethos and aims? Incompetence?Deterioration?Debacle?
“Allows the CEO to set the performance targets, and ensures that the CEO reports to the board how those targets are being met.”
Love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.
Randy: “Right, yr the new Chairman. I want you to win the league, turn a profit, find me the next Messi, and NEVER ask me for any money. Got that”?
New Chairman: “Erm…Would you like me to turn the water into wine whilst I’m at it”?
Randy – “Well Mr Chairman I’ll put it to the committee and see if they want red, white or rose, is it French and the potential resale value”.
SEB – simply put the CEO runs the business on a day to day basis and is responsible to the Chairman for meeting the objectives as agreed by the Board. The Chairman runs the Board and has overall responsibility for the business in terms of strategy, resources (to meet the strategy – so that would include adequate financing) and due diligence – that is ensuring the business meets all statutory legislation. OLL is correct in that the Chairman is normally a non executive position although they can have an executive position. The relationship between the Chairman and CEO is a key part of any business.
If the Chairman is merely a stooge for Lerner then I believe things will only get worse; he has to have an independent mind and ability to make judgements in respect of the strategy of the business and the necessary resources required. Given that the owner is ‘in absentia’ I believe this to be a key appointment where we really need a big hitter with real ability and presence. I also think one of the Chairman’s roles will be to pursue a sale of the club on behalf of the owner.
Clearly having Lerner in the States all the time is not good for the club.
Hope that helps.
Hitchens60, I’ve seen lots of comments along the lines of ‘hope he’s not lerner’s yes man/stooge/puppet’ but this doesn’t make sense because our owner appears to have no control over any of his employees at the moment. There seems to be many people pulling in many directions so I don’t think any of them are being yes men and I don’t think he cares either. We’re we’re losing tens of millions finishing 6th and we’re still losing tens of millions. There appears to be no structure at the club at all. Thanks for the explanations chaps but surely all the decision making lies with Tom Fox whether there’s a Chairman/woman or not. He has all the power and things won’t improve – Lerner needs to come over for a year and sort his own mess out.
So what exactly is an exec and non exec. Explain to me as if I’m a 3 yr old please 🙂
An executive is a full-time employee paid a salary. The top executive is often called the CEO = chief executive officer. If you think about it, you can see that if everybody in charge of the company was a full time employee, including all the board of directors, then they would likely be reluctant to sack themselves even when it was merited. They would also not be independent when setting their own salaries.
Therefore most companies have non-executive directors on their boards together with the executive directors, the non-execs still have to be voted in by the shareholders. The chairman is usually a non-exec and the head of the remuneration committee (concerned with executives salaries) is also a non-exec.
The idea of this is the non-execs represent the shareholders interest and can control the execs pay, and even sack them for incompetence, subject to a majority vote of the whole board.
Thanks OLL but what happens if non execs are underperforming can they be sacked. Do they earn a salary thanks
OohAh – non execs do earn a salary other than in charitable businesses where quite often they act in an unpaid capacity. I was the equivalent to a non exec with a major university and didn’t receive any remuneration. Yes, non execs can and are removed from the board if they don’t perform or act improperly – it’s the board as a whole that decides and I have in the capacity of the chairman of a company removed (with the Board’s consent) a non exec for inappropriate behaviour.
Hope that helps
OohAh – should have said in privately owned rather than companies with shareholders. In the latter case board members are elected by the shareholders normally on a three year term – but can still be removed by the Board within that period if necessary.
Thanks
It does thanks Hitchens
See they’ve got the fancy dress ready for the end of the season –
http://shop.avfc.co.uk/shop/aston-villa-christmas-elf-jumper-adult/index.html
‘Always look on the bright side of life….’
I only wish the club was run as well as this jumper was designed!!!
Just in time. Villa’s end of season party follows the final whistle at St James’s.
I bet grealish will give the performance of his career that night & that’ll be after the final whistle.
Got to save some energy for the dance floor after all 🙂
I reckon that’s one of Lerners brainstorm, who the he’ll would wear it. He’d sell more selling jesters suites, then you never know it could be for the new chairman.Bum Bum, Don’t think many would know Eddie Large, Little they might, goes with what the club achieved.
Sack cloth and ashes ain’t going to work so who the hell cares?!
Hitch,, I’m putting Ban-Ki Moon into being our new chairman only the United Nation’s could save us. Hitch have a safe one back mate its still warm here 13-15 degrees parts of country, And what a nice place you have think its way out of my league,
Wankey Moon couldn’t save anything the UN is a joke just like us!
See wrong again Oohah , Ban-Ki Moon got him to give us scarves to help us,
?
No one can save us Bill – we’re doomed!
Thanks for the nice comments – never say never Bill.
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/tom-fox-announces-relegation-survival-plan-free-villa-scarves/
Oohah, yes the non-exec gets paid.
It’s not a salary though, it’s more an allowance, but it amounts to the same thing.
And yes, they can be sacked, if they’re voted off by the board.
It’s why this whole thing is a misnomer, imo.
This is a private company, where we don’t know who has what voting percentages.
Lerner might well appoint a new chairman, but if the company’s constitution (written by him or his family trust’s reps) says that he retains 51% of the vote, what’s the point?
It’s a new chairman in name only imo, in that “They moan about me not being there, I’ll give them a chairman that attends the games”.
And deflects the flak.
If the new chairman isn’t a football name (and I’ll bet he isn’t) the whole thing is a load of bollocks.
it’s jobs for the boys, as demonstrated by Fatty Faulkner getting the job at the BCC;
http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/policy-maker/blog/manufacturers-in-greater-birmingham.html
A total joke and how did he justify getting that job, exactly?
Would you have millions invested in a club and not want to retain the final say?
That’s the question.
Don’t forget this chairman will probably cost £200k+ a year too.
And yet another breadhead, who knows nothing about the game, I’ll wager.
The sooner Lerner goes, the better.
It’s as simple as that for me.
“It’s a new chairman in name only imo, in that “They moan about me not being there, I’ll give them a chairman that attends the games”.
And deflects the flak.
Never a truer word spoken, echos the thoughts of most Villa fans.
Thanks for explaining Badger
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35117587
‘Aston Villa manager Remi Garde has been told he will be given any backing he needs in the transfer window.’
Someone please tell them that the horse has bolted!
Notice the “final say” comment in Fox’s rattle?
So we’re still doing moneyball then, as much as Fox tries to say we aren’t.
Total bullshit and I don’t believe a word he says.
Any backing he needs?
Like the £50 mill, that I’ve called for and any manager would too?
Two hopes.
I’m expecting £15 mill.
And maybe £20 mill if Randy thinks he’s going to push the boat out and really go for European glory (!)
I know this is serious money in any normal planet, but we’re talking Prem footy.
Sorry, but I find the whole situation just laughable lately.
Even the £50 mill I scoffed at would probably be too little, too late.
Karma, Randy, imo.
Badger that very thought struck me on announcing a Chairperson, if you own a business, I’m damed that I’d not hold that final say, £200k+ , Ellis got £1.75k in the 80s I’d go for £300+ ,as most now think all this is to divert the flack off him, Lerner has been schooled with his last ownership of Cleveland Browns how to side step problems, only way out for Villa is to get rid of Lerner. As for fatty Faulkner the only thing about that is cooking the books springs to mind.
Bill, I doubt many know Ellis was the first chairman of a club, to pay himself, the greedy bastard.
But that’s done.
Side-stepping; Yes that’s what it is.
What was his comment? “only women and horses work for nothing”.
What an absolute charmer.
Pat57,
Your link doesn’t reference the “final say” part that I was on about.
For clarity, this does;
http://talksport.com/football/aston-villa-fc-remi-garde-will-have-final-say-over-transfers-says-chief-executive
While managers used to go out and tell the scouts what to look for, now the moneyballers are suggesting players to the manager.
There’s a subtle, but very important difference, imo.
Perhaps you’re right Badger but I must admit I don’t care all that much now.
I was trying to think of a word that would sum up how I feel about the Villa at the moment and found it – the word is ‘Despondent’ – the definition – ‘unhappy and with no hope or enthusiasm’
That’s exactly the right word 🙁
Yep, sums me up too.
And no doubt most Villa supporters 🙁
+1.
Seems this has decended into a spat between Fox and Sherwood. Both seem adamant they’re telling the truth, but to whose truth do they alude?
I believe Sherwood and colleymore over fox anyday
https://www.facebook.com/HolteEndersInTheSky/photos/a.476540285705201.128647.476499362375960/1265343730158182/?type=3&theater
The chosen one has gone, Chelsea sacks Marino.
Proper name Jose Mourinho
Not surprised can’t cope with the real world of football. All he does is buy the finished article for millions and hasn’t developed a young player in his life
London BBC news main headline mourinho sacked fucking typical london biased surely there’s more important news out there FUCK Jose.
Papers will be full of this for years
Gabby Agbonlahor’s Aston Villa future could be in doubt after boss Remi Garde admitted to a ‘disagreement’ with the club captain.
The 29-year-old was left out of the squad last week and is facing a fight to regain his place ahead of Saturday’s trip to Newcastle.
Garde insists none of his players have asked to leave in January but concedes that he will look to offload any individuals who are not fully committed to the cause.
Villa will listen to offers for Agbonlahor but the manager was quick to play down talk that he doesn’t trust the long-serving forward. Poor chap he’s been moaning about the way he’s been treated. This is on Birmingham mail today.
MATE he threw a wobbly under GH as the manager wouldn’t play him because he just didn’t rate him,shabby said if houllier was still in charge the following season he would of left.Mr VILLA really believes he’s the bollox & should play when fit fairplay to REMI for standing his ground.
Can’t see who’d come in for Agbonlahor; he’d have to take a big wage cut to interest lower-league teams, and which PL team would bother wtih him now?
Stoke, Sunderland, Norwich, Bournemouth even Newcastle would probably all take Gabby right now.
Your not far out Andrew, and he’d play his heart out to put us down, something not been right in our club over a few years, and I don’t mean management, although even that’s been dire, I mean dressing room might be money in wages or jealousy in some way, things don’t add up. You’ve only got to look at Chelsea that’s player power whats gone on over the doctor and how them players liked her. Could be me and I’m wrong. But it stinks.
Scotland maybe. I hear there is interest from one of the biggest names in Scottish football, but Inverness Caledonian Thistle aren’t hiring so he is going to Ayr instead.
They were struggling in Swansea game and pre season before she was sacked. Internet rumours are rife that she is seeing ivanovich and the way he’s been playing it makes sense. Though this is only alleged no idea if true.
I doubt it
Why? Hughes would probably use him, and the other clubs would easily take him on.
Exactly we would have to give another club most of his wages to get rid
Problem is our players don’t have to leave if they don’t want to
Ps BADGER replying seems to be a long winded process now is there a problem MATE
Giddy, I’m not seeing a problem here, but that’s no surprise given the only time I can get to read.
I’ll reboot the server to see if it helps.
how many goals has tabby scored this season.
they will have a job shipping him out.
Chelsea seemed to go wrong when they were invincible in the league and then lost to Bradford in cup…….the 2nd 1/2 of season they were boring as hell and lost 3-0 to baggies….its carried on from there.
Chelsea weren’t as good second half of season most of their wins where ground out rather turning teams over. Mourinho is very defensive and is only good at leading from the front. They went top of the league and started well but if city had overtaken them he would struggle to catch them
Yawn. Who cares anymore?!