Randy Lerner's right-hand man on Martin O'Neill, the team and the Villa fans
them to go out and play their hearts out on that pitch. The reality is that sometimes you can bring somebody in who is an absolute superstar but he may not fit in with the scheme of the selfless way that is executed on the pitch here at Villa.
“One of Martin’s great strengths is his ability to get the right kind of player to play in his team.
“We have seen that with the likes of John Carew, Stilyan Petrov or Martin Laursen. They probably don’t have the names of a Kaka of this world but Martin will get his team to play his system with the intensity he likes.
“You have to be pretty impressed with what he has done at Villa.”
It was last season that threw up the biggest highs and lows of any of the new regime’s three seasons in charge.
Villa were third in February, three points off the top of the table and seemingly invincible away from home, but they won only two of their remaining 13 league matches as the season fizzled out.
“It is a crazy game,” said Krulak. “We started out like a ball of fire and we ended up not the way we would have wanted it.
“I heard a lot of people talking about luck, but with my military background I have never believed in luck.
“You make your own luck. The harder you work the luckier you can get.
“Early on last season we had no injuries and were cranking it along. We then suffered some injuries in key positions.
“When you suffer the loss of one, two or three people in particular positions – that is a problem.
“Martin again did a manful job. Things did not end up the way we wanted but that’s the game. That is football. You can’t have a strategy for injuries.”
Krulak and Lerner have formed a close, almost unbreakable bond which began with Krulak’s friendship with Lerner’s father Alfred, the son of Jewish-Russian immigrants who served in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1957, and later became chairman of the MBNA Bank.
“Randy and I are very close. He is like a son to me,” said Krulak. “Likewise he is a friend. It is a very close relationship.”
Lerner has seldom sought the media’s focus at Villa, preferring to allow his deeds to do his talking.
But a dictator? Certainly not.
“Randy’s leadership style is one that is very inclusive,” said Krulak. “He will ask for input from everybody at Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath. He will listen to everybody. But at the end it is him that makes the final decision.
“I’m not talking about ‘which players’, but we talk about all of the things that surround the operation of Aston Villa.
“I knew his dad. He was a Marine and when he passed away Randy was working in Chester. I had been the chairman and then Randy became the chairman of the corporation.
“He is a renaissance man. He is more than just a football chairman.
“He understands politics, he is a musician, an artist, an architect and a lawyer. He is a complex individual.
“People look at Randy Lerner and think that he is just a wealthy American, but he is far more than that.”
Krulak says that sceptics of the Lerner revolution underestimate the degree of passion the former investment analyst holds for his club.
“Both Randy and I, first and foremost, love the game. It is just a beautiful sport.
“There is a reality that the manager, our coaches, the squad ... are all good, good people.
“They care about the Villa. They’re passionate. They’re focused.
“I come from the military where I am accustomed to being around good people who are passionate about what they do. I see that same attitude in our manager, coaches and players and it is a real pleasure to be associated with them.”
Then there are the supporters, still clearly behind the American – almost to a man.
“To be honest, when talking about Randy Lerner and General Krulak it should be understood that we are also supporters of the NFL and are accustomed to attending games in the US.
The fans in the US are great – especially the Cleveland Browns fans.
“At the same time, I don’t think I have ever seen an entire fan base that is like the Villa.
“We have joked about it but I will tell you our fans are passionate. They are extremely knowledgeable and they are extremely loyal.
“That passion, knowledge and loyalty is tremendously impressive.
“When you go to a game and see them sing their hearts out and cheering no matter what the score, it is really impressive.
“On these websites I am willing to accept the good, the bad and the ugly – and sometimes it does get ugly. That is not because they are angry, but because they are passionate.
“All of those things – the lovely game, the coaches, the fans, the squad, Villa Park – make the relationship like being a part of a Villa family and that’s very important.”
Krulak has spent the past three years posting thousands of messages on a variety of fans’ message boards
He admits he has been taken aback by the amount of passion the game has invoked in both his and Randy’s hearts.
“It really has,” he said.
“I will never forget that very first game that we attended. We walked out into the Directors’ Box and the noise was absolutely deafening.
“Randy and I looked at each other and said, ‘My God! These are fans!’
“Respect from the fans is amazing and it is one of the central things that drives our club.”
Finally, what of Birmingham City’s promotion?
When they were last in the top flight, there was much made of a remark made on the internet concerning “pigs” and “mud”.
Krulak was angered at the time that his comment was taken completely out of context.
Now he appears happy at their return.
“I believe it is healthy to have as many of the local clubs in the Premier League,” he said.
“Your readership might not understand it but it is very similar to American Football at the College rank when we have the Army and Navy game.
“That is rivalry which brings out great passion.
“I hope and pray that that passion at Villa Park is directed in the right manner on the pitch and that we don’t have any incidents off it.”
