Birmingham Council crisis could impact Villa Park plans as UEFA …
Aston Villa[1] return to Premier League action this weekend after the September international break, and will host Crystal Palace as the first of seven games they will play in the space of three weeks.
Unai Emery’s side will play two Europa Conference League group stage matches, four Premier League games and a Carabao Cup third round clash with Everton in that period. They’ve started the season with two wins and two defeats, while Emery has also integrated five new players to his squad over recent weeks and months.
Since Villa’s 3-0 defeat at Liverpool, Birmingham City Council[2] has issued a section 114 notice as part of their plans to meet their financial liabilities, and the club’s plans to redevelop Villa Park could be impacted as a result.
BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL CRISIS COULD IMPACT VILLA PARK PLANS
The council has declared itself effectively bankrupt, as the notice prevents all but essential spending to protect core services. An urgent spending freeze has been announced after a £650 million equal pay bill emerged, and Government officials and external auditors are now helping the council work out what happens next. The city council, which has a £2.2 billion annual budget, has to now work out how to meet a huge liability.
BirminghamLive understands the costs will also continue to grow[3] by up to £14 million a month if the issue is not quickly resolved. Transport links around Villa Park are poor, and the local train stations need upgrading to serve increased demand.
It’s believed that Villa were awaiting funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority – which, in 2021, funded the £30million redevelopment of Perry Barr railway station ahead of the Commonwealth Games[4] – to help improve Witton station, which would then allow the club to break ground on phase one of the redevelopment of Villa Park.
Speaking at a Birmingham City Council[5] meeting in June, councillor Lee Marsham (Nechells, Lab) put pressure on Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, to stump up the millions needed to upgrade Witton Station in line with Villa’s grand plans to improve their stadium in the months and years to come.
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Witton station, which is among the closest to a stadium in the Premier League, was labelled “not fit for purpose” by the club’s former CEO Christian Purslow given the lack of trains and carriages put on for fans on matchdays. Last season, on an average matchday, less than three trains arrived per hour, which is a major issue.
Mayor Mr Street previously spoke to BirminghamLive about the issues Villa supporters have been having involving the congested road and rail networks. He said: “The wonderful thing is that the club is working with the city to look at the whole area around Villa Park. But I would like to see more people come via public transport. That’s the easiest way as the ground gets bigger.
“It’s even more important that is done; [Witton] station and indeed Aston. That’s the real solution [to the travel problems].” He added: “We’re also going to need to think about car parking in the total travel plan for the ground at 50,000 and, obviously, the wonderful aspiration for this to be a Euro 2028 venue as well. We will need to think about those things. But Witton station is the No.1 priority.”
UEFA TO CONFIRM EURO 2028 HOST NEXT MONTH
In November, Villa Park was shortlisted in the UK and Ireland’s bid to host the UEFA EURO 2028 Championship, a month before Villa were then granted planning permission for the expansion of their stadium. The club plans to demolish the North Stand following the Foo Fighters gig at Villa Park on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Villa anticipate that the new North Stand will be built by the end of May 2026, meaning that during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, no fans will be housed behind the goal opposite the Holte End. If the UK and Ireland’s bid to host UEFA EURO 2028 is successful, then the new North Stand must be complete by the end of May 2026 deadline to comply with UEFA regulations.
Villa will find out on October 10 if their home, Villa Park, will host the European Championships as the stadium is one of ten arenas which have been put forward as venues. Others include Wembley, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, St James’ Park in Newcastle and Hampden Park in Glasgow.
And should the UK and Ireland’s bid be successful, leader of Birmingham City Council[8] John Cotton believes it will boost the local economy by £117 million.
Legia fans during Legia Warsaw vs FC Midtjylland (Image: Photo by Andrzej Iwanczuk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
LEGIA AND VILLA AWAIT UEFA DECISION
Villa fans are yet to be given the opportunity to purchase tickets for the club’s first Europa Conference League group stage match, away to Legia Warsaw. The Polish club is currently undergoing proceedings before UEFA disciplinary bodies regarding their play-off match with FC Midtjylland.
Legia won 6-5 on penalties against the Danish club, after drawing 4-4 on aggregate across the two legs. Why UEFA are carrying out an investigation has not been clarified, but home fans used pyrotechnics throughout the match, and this has been reported[9] as a possible reason why Legia could now face a punishment.
A club statement reads: “We would like to inform you that Legia Warszawa is currently facing proceedings before the disciplinary authorities of UEFA regarding our last match against FC Midtjylland.
“The club uses all possible instruments to ensure that all seats in the stadium during the match against Aston Villa FC are available to supporters. However, there is a risk that the decision of the UEFA authorities may limit the pool of tickets available for sale.
“Therefore, the club informs that the sale of tickets and packages for the group stage matches of the UEFA Europa Conference League will start after receiving a binding decision of the UEFA authorities. We will provide further information on a regular basis.”
CLARET & BLUE CATCH-UP
What do you make of the news? Tell us in the comments section…[10]
References
- ^ Aston Villa (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham City Council (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ BirminghamLive understands the costs will also continue to grow (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Commonwealth Games (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham City Council (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ online shop NOW (shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk)
- ^ click here (shop.regionalnewspapers.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham City Council (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ reported (gol24.pl)
- ^ comments section… (www.birminghammail.co.uk)