Aston Villa are set to avoid the threat of another financial crisis after owner Dr Tony Xia assured the Championship club around £5m in funds.

Villa are confident of paying this month’s pay-roll and tax bill on time, as it emerged talks were held this week with the Football League over their future plans.

Shaun Harvey, the EFL’s chief executive, has met with Villa officials and is understood to have received assurances that Xia is working hard to source outside investment and meet the club’s financial obligations.

Xia has been struggling with cash-flow issues in China and was late making a payment to HMRC in May, but has since provided the money to keep the club running for at least another month. It is understood the first round of June’s payments are due on Friday.

Though Villa’s problems are far from over, it suggests Xia remains determined to solve their financial worries and avert the nightmare scenario of administration.