Billionaire Lerner adds to his Collection of Mediocre Sports Teams

We’d never want to be a billionaire. In addition to the difficulty of finding a wallet big enough to fit all of that money, it must be a real burden always being identified as “Billionaire XXX”.

That is exactly how US businessman Randy Lerner is described in the headlines today after he has purchased England Premiership side Aston Villa for a mere $118.8 million, or roughly the amount he could find under his sofa cushions.

Lerner is no stranger to professional sports teams. His family has owned the NFL Cleveland Browns since 1998. This experience with the Browns should prove to be excellent preparation for his future with the Villians. The Browns, much like Aston Villa, have a recent history of mediocrity. Since owning the team, Cleveland has compiled a record of 36 wins and 76 loses. You don’t have to understand American football at all to know that this isn’t a stellar record.

Still, optimism reigns for some Aston Villa supporters since Lerner’s money might inject some new life in a team that has been coasting by the past couple of decades.

Will we see anything like the backlash that took place in Manchester when another NFL owner took over a team? Doubtful. Billions are the name of the game these days and as Chelsea has proven it doesn’t matter as much where those billions come from as where they are spent.

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Category: English Premier League