Aston Villa Owner Randy Lerner: We Are Aiming For The Champions League Next Season

Chairman's desire is 'as alive as ever'



However, the amiable American also stressed that spending vast amounts of money, similar to Manchester City, is not the answer.



Villa were pressing for a top four spot this season until two defeats in the final two games condemned them to sixth.



"The ambition and appetite to compete for the top four spot and qualify for Europe is as alive and well as it's ever been,” Lerner told the official Aston Villa website.



"Exactly how to do that is a little bit more of an open question than simply spend to get there.



"I think from an anecdotal perspective, if it was simply spend to get there then the composition of the top four might actually be slightly different.



"I think there are other strengths that yield likelihoods of getting there - continuity of the manager, being able to target a player, bring him along and be acknowledged as Young Player of the Year, anecdotally-speaking.



"I guess it's my way to try and say that yes, the appetite and ambition to get there is very real and exactly what the path is and whether it's as brutally raw to spend there and get there is an open question in my mind.”



Yet, despite talks of Villa boss Martin O’Neill working under a sell-before-you-buy policy this summer, Lerner will back his manager if the opportunity to bring in players of the required quality arises.



"There' a sell-to-buy policy in nearly every organisation on the planet. It's good business to try to sell to buy,” continued Lerner.



"On the other hand, if opportunities arise in which the net number of sell-to-buy doesn't equal what is required to take advantage of an opportunity, then you may spend the money."



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Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner has insisted that his desire for Aston Villa to earn a top four spot and a place in the Champions League is "as alive as it's ever been".However, the amiable American also stressed that spending vast amounts of money, similar to Manchester City, is not the answer.Villa were pressing for a top four spot this season until two defeats in the final two games condemned them to sixth."The ambition and appetite to compete for the top four spot and qualify for Europe is as alive and well as it's ever been,” Lerner told the official Aston Villa website."Exactly how to do that is a little bit more of an open question than simply spend to get there."I think from an anecdotal perspective, if it was simply spend to get there then the composition of the top four might actually be slightly different."I think there are other strengths that yield likelihoods of getting there - continuity of the manager, being able to target a player, bring him along and be acknowledged as Young Player of the Year, anecdotally-speaking."I guess it's my way to try and say that yes, the appetite and ambition to get there is very real and exactly what the path is and whether it's as brutally raw to spend there and get there is an open question in my mind.”Yet, despite talks of Villa boss Martin O’Neill working under a sell-before-you-buy policy this summer, Lerner will back his manager if the opportunity to bring in players of the required quality arises."There' a sell-to-buy policy in nearly every organisation on the planet. It's good business to try to sell to buy,” continued Lerner."On the other hand, if opportunities arise in which the net number of sell-to-buy doesn't equal what is required to take advantage of an opportunity, then you may spend the money."Become a fan of Goal.com UK's Facebook fan page for all the latest news and insight into everything related to the beautiful game!