Third set of buyers lining up at Villa

Jul 26 2006 By Narin Bahar

SPECULATION is mounting that Sven Goran Eriksson's agent Athole Still is heading up a bid from a THIRD consortium trying to buy Aston Villa.

Earlier this afternoon a bid for £64million fronted by lifelong Villa supported Michael Neville was put forward, amid reports that American billionaire Randy Lerner is also interested in putting an offer on the table for current Villa chairman Doug Ellis' controlling stake in the club.

But speculation is growing of the existence of a third consortium interested in the club, with prominent football agent Still spearheading the bid, according to Sky Sports News.

Still is reported to have held talks with Villa officials on Wednesday to register his group's interest in buying the Premiership club and was filmed leaving Villa Park shortly after 7pm.

Details of the offer proposal have yet to emerge, but with former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson on his books, Villa fans are already hoping that the Swedish manager could be a potential candidate to replace David O'Leary, who left the club last week by mutual consent.

* Now it looks like there are three different consortiums vying for control at Villa Park. But who's best for the long term future of the club? Tell us what you think at www.birminghammail.net/villa/yourshout