andycv

General, One of the aims of the Acorns deal was to attract other top quality commercial partners to the club. I've noticed on the official site that the list of 2008/2009 partners is to be added. Have we signed up with any new brands as platinum partners? Thanks Andy

Do you think we're wrong to hold out to get the value that we place on the player then? The answer to your question is simple - Barry's got to knuckle down and play.

General, I wanted to ask you about the website - apparently Villa have released a statement confirming Barry has asked the manager to leave the club but we are still declining the offer. This isn't reflected on the news section of the website. Is this because we haven't made a statement, or because the news section isn't up to date (it should be!) Thanks! Andy

General, Great news on the Acorns deal! Will the club be announcing any other new partners shortly? I know Acorns have our shirt sponsorship, is the club going to announce any other major new partnerships during the close season?

This is one for the ITK. I have been told by a friend who works with Barry's representatives that he is going to agree a new, long term deal at Villa in the next week. Apparently he was thinking of moving but MoN & Randy's ambitions along with his position at the club persuaded him the right thing to do was stay.

General, what's your personal feeling on Barry staying? 50/50? 75/25? Or are you not prepared to say?! Thanks Andy

General, grateful if you could let us know asap that Barry is with us! 8) :winkold:

Thanks for that, General. Any idea when they'll report back their recommendations/plans? Would Randy consider pulling down the Doug Ellis stand with the North Stand, or will it just be the North Stand going? Thanks I think the general answered the second part of your question in his initial response?

General, I wondered if you could expand a little on Villa's strategy with regard to corporate partners next season? Do you envisage (barring 32red) that we'll stay the same, or are there some significant (non shirt sponsoring) partners going to join the club? Also, can you give some indication about the impact the led pitch side ads have had on match sponsorship revenue? Has they had the impact that the club expected?

General, Can you give us any information about Villa's strategy and aims for the transfer window? As you can see for yourself there's already a lot of speculation on the amount of money available to the manager, possible salary caps at the club and the number of players that will come in. I know you don't know about individual transfers and can't comment on targets, but do you think our (the fans) experience of this window will be different to last summer? Do you think we will see more than 6 players being brought in? Finally, if you can't answer any of those (which you probably can't!), do you find it furstrating during the transfer window that you can't communicate with the fans on targets & plans, and do you think there is a way to do it better? (probably not!) Thanks

General, I wonder if you could tell us a little about the board's history and experience in negotiations, give everyone seems to be worried that we're just going to keel over and cave to Liverpool's first offer? Also, how do you react to being told you can't do something? I think Villa are taking the right approach, in a very grown up way, by saying that we are desperate to keep the player, but we won't keep an unhappy player. Finally, (and I understand if you don't want to answer this one, for fear of having it re-quoted at you after events play out) what's your feeling on the chances of Barry staying? 50-50? Better or worse?

General - I have a question about next season's shirt sponsor. Will the organisation that has their name on the shirt next year be paying Villa any money for that? Also, are they a commercial organisation, or in another sector? Thanks Andy

General, On the new sponsor, you've said that the club are contractually bound not to announce anything at the moment. Can you say when this clause expires? Is it at the same time as the current deal expires (I am assuming 31 May?) Thanks

General, Bill Howell has posted on his blog that Villa are going to raise prices significantly for next season: "One piece of news has reached me these last few days- expect a steep increase in ticket prices at Villa Park next season." http://blogs.birminghammail.net/astonvilla/ I just wondered if you had any views on this?