Aston Villa fans write to owner Tony Xia demanding answers as takeover talk hots up

In a letter to the beleaguered owner, the executive board of the Villa Supporters’ Trust (AVST) have again called for clarity over the current financial position and requested a meeting with the club’s hierarchy, in order to address the fears of their members.

Xia, who is based in China, is facing up to the prospect of selling Villa – or at the very least giving up a controlling stake – if he cannot quickly solve the cash crisis which brought the club to the brink of a financial disaster earlier this month.

Two groups are thought to be seriously interested and initial talks have taken place.

Sources close to the negotiations have told the Express & Star they are hopeful of a significant breakthrough within the next 48 hours.

Yet it is also understood Xia has not entirely given up hope of a deal which would see him maintain overall control.

Failure to gain promotion last season plunged Villa into crisis and they narrowly avoided a winding-up order after missing a tax payment, while chief executive Keith Wyness left the club after clashing with Xia over the best way to address their financial troubles.

Wyness has now launched legal action against Villa, on the grounds of constructive dismissal.

In the Trust’s letter, which has been sent to Xia in addition to being published on the group’s website, the board ask the owner to clarify who is the senior executive now running the club on a day-to-day basis.

They have also called on Xia to improve his communication with fans.

The letter states: “We are writing to you to voice the concerns of our members and of many of our supporters.

“None of us foresaw the financial meltdown and subsequent fallout a failure to gain promotion has brought.

“This leaves us with fears over our future, of whether Administration is a real possibility and what that means on the pitch in the rapidly approaching season.

“With that in mind, we need urgent answers to the following before we consider what further action we should take.”

Xia has already rejected one offer, understood to have come from a European consortium, of £40million for a 51 per cent stake in the club.

Though Xia was able to source funds to resolve his immediate issues with HMRC and pay June’s bills on time, his long-term problem of moving money out of China has not been resolved.

With another set of payments due next month, including around £11million in transfer fees owed to other clubs, pressure is steadily rising on the owner again.

Uncertainty over Villa’s future direction is also having an adverse affect on their plans for the summer transfer window.

Boss Steve Bruce and his coaching staff are increasingly fearful of missing out on players as they continue to wait for the green light from Xia to push ahead with proposed deals.