EPL Side Aston Villa-Supporting Consortium In 'Pole Position' To Buy Club

Sources reported a group of Premier League side Aston Villa-supporting businessmen "are in pole position to purchase the club from Randy Lerner" in a deal which could rise to £100M ($143M), according to SKY SPORTS. The consortium, which is based partly in the U.K. and partly in mainland Europe, "is carrying out due diligence having been given access to the club's accounts." There "are as many as eight groups which have come forward to buy the now-relegated Premier League club." The departure of Mervyn King and David Bernstein from the board "has left the club in turmoil." However, cost-cutting and the announcement of 500 job losses at Villa Park "has cleared the path for meaningful takeover talks." Negotiations "were continuing on Thursday" (SKY SPORTS, 4/21).