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The Chinese group who are hoping to buy Aston Villa could soon undergo the Owners’ and Directors Test, the Birmingham Mail understands.

Villa’s potential new owners are closing in on a takeover as Randy Lerner looks to offload the club following relegation to the Championship.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness is involved with the group and will hold a senior role at the club if a deal can be struck.

Talks are said to be at an advanced stage and the aim is to have an agreement in place by the end of the month.

In order for it to go through, the consortium must pass the test which was formerly set up to determine whether a person was ‘fit-and-proper’.

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The procedure is there to safeguard clubs against falling into the hands of corrupt owners and, once passed, will allow an interested party to press on with their business.

It’s likely to be the Football League dealing with any such event as the claret and blues officially lose their Premier League status in early June and will work to a new set of very similar rules

Roberto Di Matteo remains the bookies favourite to become the next manager and is thought to have met with members of the Chinese consortium last week to discuss the vacant post.

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A flurry of bets were subsequently placed on the Italian to be appointed but other names continue to be linked.

Nigel Pearson is not yet out of the running, but caretaker boss Eric Black’s time at the club appears to be over.

When asked after yesterday’s 4-0 defeat at Arsenal whether the club can bounce back at the first attempt, Black said: “Yeah I do.

"I think it’s realistic due to the stature of Aston Villa, no question.

“Obviously there are on-going things in regards to the ownership and a new manager that comes in but I have no doubt that Aston Villa will be a massive club with a great opportunity to come straight back.”

Villa’s players will return for pre-season training in early July and will then start preparing for the first season in the second tier for almost 30 years.