The former Villa defender admits things can always get worse, but hopes relegation is the worst the club will suffer.
Former Aston Villa defender Steve Staunton has told Sky Sports that although things always have the potential to get worse, he hopes the new takeover of Aston Villa will bring an end to the club’s woes.
The Birmingham club suffered relegation in the most miserable fashion this season, winning just three of their 38 Premier League matches and finishing with the third-lowest points total in Premier League history.
Not only were their on-field exploits appalling, but they also endured off-field turmoil with Tim Sherwood and Remi Garde both sacked as manager, Randy Lerner failing to find a buyer for the club, and new board members coming and going in the second half of the season.
However, it was announced earlier this week that Lerner has finally managed to sell the club, with Chinese businessman Tony Xia and his Recon Group buying out the club and Xia assuming the role of chairman.
Though the takeover has yet to be officially ratified, Staunton is hopeful that the new ownership can put a stop to Villa’s alarming slide and give supporters reason to be optimistic once again.
The Irishman, who played over 300 times across two spells with Villa, told Sky Sports: “This year [it’s been an] absolute shambles. It’s disgraceful what has happened to the football club. It’s been allowed to happen and that comes from the top. People have been there to put it right and they made matters worse and unfortunately it’s cost the club a relegation.
“[It’s] great news that the club’s been taken over because if it had have continued there was no light at the end of the tunnel, to be honest with you. But I think this will give Villa fans hope.
“There is a takeover, new people, hopefully they’re football people or will get football people involved to run the club properly. It can always get worse, but you’d like to think this is as bad as it’s going to get for Villa.”
Xia’s first task as new owner will be to appoint a new manager, and he has confirmed that extensive work is going to select the right choice.
Former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson had been reported to be the frontrunner for the job, but reports in recent days have suggested that the new owners are keen on bringing former Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion boss Roberto Di Matteo back to England.
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