Where would Villa be right now without their affable owner?
After the anaemic and virtually anonymous reign of Randy Lerner, the new man in charge could hardly be more popular.
Tony Xia, with his zealous Tweets and embellished ambitions, may not exactly fit into the stereotype that the best owner is the silent owner but he has become something of a flagship for foreign chairmen, a refreshing contrast to the tradition-defiling likes of Vincent Tan.
He certainly made a strong first impression. Within weeks of taking over, Xia quipped that he wanted to guide Aston Villa to Champions League glory within 10 years, per The Telegraph. Just a reminder, this is the same Aston Villa that were relegated in disgrace a month prior, arguably the most wretched side in Premier League history.
Yet, while many fans expressed understandable concern at Xia’s apparent lack of familiarity with the game, such exaggerated exclamations now only add to his likeability. He is, first and foremost, well-intentioned. The thrill of reawakening a fallen giant appears to appeal much more to Xia than the prospect of a quick profit.
A case in point; Aston Villa invested over £30 million on reviving their squad in the summer, outspending, amongst others, Real Madrid and AC Milan per The Sun. Only Jonathan Kodjia and James Chester can be classed as an unqualified success but the intention was clear to see.
And while plenty are arriving, the revolving door transfer policy that underpinned the club’s decline appears to have been brought to an overdue end.
In the preceeding decade, Fabian Delph, Christian Benteke, Ashley Young, James Milner and Gareth Barry all left Villa Park, coinciding with the club’s slide from European contenders to eventual relegation certainties.
These days, however, thanks to Xia’s brazen ambition and deep pockets, the club no longer needs, or wants, to sell. The hard-lined approach over the future of 18-year-old striker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy proves Villa will not be held to ransom by one of their own.
The teenager, incessantly linked with Rangers by the Birmingham Mail, might be one of the club’s most exciting talents in years but, as Xia himself stated on Twitter, a player must demonstrate their desire and commitment to the club before the club does likewise.
Furthermore, his refusal to entertain the prospect of a January exit for left-back Jordan Amavi is completely at odds with Lerner’s willingness to flog almost each and every prized asset at a decent fee.
And that’s without mentioning his brave decision to sack Roberto Di Matteo after only 12 games in charge and point a proven, promotion expert in Steve Bruce. The most likeable owner in the land has a ruthless streak.
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