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Paul Lambert believes the arrival of Tom Fox as Chief Executive can take the strain of his mobile - and help Aston Villa nab his remaining transfer targets.

The Villa boss admits that the loss of Paul Faulkner left him ploughing something of a lone furrow through the summer.

But Fox’s calibre and contacts should give Lambert an overdue helping hand.

“If I can do it and I think it’s right for the club, and everything is good financially and players want to come then it’s something I would look at,” said Lambert.

“Until you get that far then... wait and see. But we are trying.”

Fox has spent the past five years as Chief Commercial Officer at Arsenal having been in the sports-marketing industry for over 25 years.

Chairman Randy Lerner said in a statement: “I was delighted and even flattered by Tom’s interest in the Villa job. His achievements at Arsenal speak for themselves and, above all, his reputation as a leader and team builder makes him, to my mind, a great fit to take our club forward.”

Lambert says Lerner will continue to have the final say on budgets with talks set to take place imminently.

“I’ve not actually spoken to him (Fox) but I know Randy has been a massive advocate of him and obviously his record at Arsenal has been huge.

“He’s come from a really good club and I’m pretty sure he will benefit this club.

“We’ve needed somebody since Paul Faulkner left. It has been hard over the past couple of months not having any chief executive here.

“But now Tom is coming in and it will be great for the football club.

“Tom, myself, Randy and Robin Russell (Chief Financial Officer) will probably get together when Tom officially starts.

“Ultimately the decisions will be the Chairman’s as to what happens but Randy has been great. He has always been good with me on that front and I’m pretty sure the four of us will get together at some point and talk about things.

“As I say it has been tough not having anybody but we’ve got through that period and hopefully we can sit together and I’m pretty sure everything will go well.

“I’m looking forward to meeting Tom. His record at another great club is great.

“It’s been hard and I have probably had a go at everything but that’s the way it went. The new Chief Exec will certainly help me and help the club.

“Paul Faulkner was great, the relationship I had with him. Tom hopefully does great for the club and we work well together.

“I’ve just had to get on with it.”

Last weekend’s win over Stoke lifted a cloud which had been hanging over the club all summer.

“In football you try and protect everybody, the players and staff from outside influences,” said Lambert.

“I knew we were a good side. I knew we could cause Stoke trouble. They put everything out of their minds and went and performed.

“Off the pitch probably affects me more than the players.

“After all the negativity towards the end of the season, to turn it around to what it is now, you can certainly feel it.

“Everybody is looking forward to the game. The place in general there’s a major turn in fortunes.

“And the new Chief Executive will be great.

“I’ve basically done things myself. It’ been hard. I’ve probably fell out with more people than I’ve ever fell out with!

“That’s the name of the game.”

Lambert says Villa remain a big draw for players: “No doubt about it, absolutely no doubt. It is a massive club. Huge. Expectancy levels are huge. I’ve no worries about that whatsoever about Aston Villa being a big, big draw for any footballer.

“The more successful you can be then the stronger the hand you’ve got. We have to get to that level. But regarding club size and facilities it is huge.”

Fox said in a statement: “Aston Villa has always been an important club in English football and it has a long and rich history of success at the top of the game.

“The chance to work with Randy, Paul Lambert and Robin to help restore the Club to its rightful place in the Premier League is a challenge I’m really energised by and greatly looking forward to.”