Petchey to sell up Villa shares

Speculation is mounting today that Villa's second largest shareholder Jack Petchey will sell up his 20% stake in the club this week to an unnamed party, believed by many to be Michael Neville's consortium.

Petchey has spent the last few years buying up shares in Aston Villa plc and it is thought that he is now a willing seller.

Rumour and speculation have been rife over recent months about a takeover at Aston Villa.

Michael Neville refused to comment on speculation, saying that "these things are always very complicated."

One only has to look at the Fortress Fund's investment in Everton and the Iranian takeover of West Ham to see that these things rarely happen.