Council leader tells Aston Villa: Call yourself Birmingham

Nov 28 2008 by Paul Dale, Birmingham Mail

ASTON Villa should include ‘Birmingham’ in the club’s name to boost international recognition of the city.

That is the bizarre wish of city council leader Mike Whitby.

He feels that the suburban-sounding Villa does not do justice to Britain’s second city.

He is urging a name change, possibly to ‘Aston Villa Birmingham’, and plans to raise the matter with club chairman Randy Lerner.

Councillor Whitby claimed the new identity would help fans to understand where Villa play football and better promote the global brand of Birmingham. But the move is bound to infuriate fans of both Villa and Birmingham City.

Coun Whitby believes that while the team is famous across the world, it is difficult to tell from the name Aston Villa where the club is based.

He’s contrasted the Villa “identity crisis” with Manchester United, where supporters are left in no doubt about the Manchester connection.

Coun Whitby said: “Aston Villa is one of Birmingham’s great institutions and is an international brand that the city is proud of.