Aston Villa ex-employee moots points finger at Tottenham staff as big-money Villa Park issue emerges

Aston Villa spent poorly in the previous regime, which has played a part in their £119.6million loss in their latest accounts.

That is according to former Villa Park scout Bryan King, after the club reported the figure in their latest accounts up to 31 May 2023 [BBC Sport, 5 March].

The publication noted that the Midlands outfit believe the number is within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

King has suggested that former Villa sporting director Johan Lange, now technical director at Tottenham, played a part in the loss.

Speaking to Villa News, King said: “It is certainly a big loss, but I think that was due to some of the bad buys they had, before the new regime had really come in.

“I think the finger points at the people who have come to Tottenham. A lot of poor investment in the transfer market, I think the recruitment hadn’t been good.

“If it’s within the rules and regulations, then it’s down to the board to square it up, and if they have to sell a player, then so be it I would imagine.

“But they’re in a good position in the Premier League, and also in the Europa Conference League. There is also a full house every week, there are 40,000 in that ground every home game. So financially they must have seemed pretty stable, but £120million is a lot of money in the last couple of years.

“Where has it gone, what has it gone on? I think they’ve spent on players poorly, and I don’t think they’ve recouped the kind of money they’ve laid out, which also gives you a little bit of a problem when it comes to financial fair play. I’d like to see a breakdown of it.”

Are Aston Villa safe from a Premier League charge?

For whatever reason, the Premier League seems to have increased its attention on financial fair play in recent seasons.

The likes of Everton and Nottingham Forest have been charged this season, with the Toffees handed a 10-point deduction for their breach, although that was reduced to six.

Aston Villa Villa Park
Credit: Imago

Villa are seemingly safe from any such charges for the time being, but the huge loss may just worry the Villa Park chiefs and indeed the loyal supporters.

In other Aston Villa news, one player is now unsellable after a recent 97% display that left Manchester City star Jack Grealish wowed.

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