MX23RW : Sunday, October 6 13:41:30| >> :120:5582:5582:

Aston Villa keen to make impact in Premier League, says chief executive

Aston Villa keen to make impact in Premier League, says chief executive
© Reuters
Villa returned to the top flight after a three-year exile.

Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow has vowed the club will not just make up the numbers in the Premier League.

Dean Smith's side returned to the top flight after a three-year absence following Monday's 2-1 Sky Bet Championship play-off final victory over Derby.

Villa finished bottom when they were relegated in 2016, winning just three games, but Purslow insisted they will compete next season.

He told Club TV: "We have momentum. We have a core of players that we're very excited about. But obviously there will be comings and goings.

"Our goal is that when we arrive in the Premier League, we are ready with a Dean Smith team – players that fit his playing profile and that give us the best possible chance to make a real impact next season, not just making up the numbers.

"There's no interest in flirting with the catastrophe of relegation that the club has had to live with for the last three years, so we need to make really good decisions and add players who really improve us."

Villa were 13th in February but 10 straight wins catapulted them into the top six at the end of the season.

Promotion was vital, with their parachute payments running out this season, and Purslow said they will use their £170million promotion windfall wisely.

He added: "We have a very well-organised recruitment department, under Suso's (sporting director) leadership – really great young recruiters and highly experienced scouts have joined our club in the last six months.

"They have been working meticulously, Dean and I have been seeing those materials for many weeks.

"We now move from the hypotheticals of Championship v Premier League – we are in the Premier League.

"We will be inundated with both suggestions and speculation. That won't impact us one iota. We know what we want to do and we will do it thoughtfully and carefully."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '01b60751-2efb-4bad-b904-4d5e235d0cd6');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Aston Villa keen to make impact in Premier League, says chief executive'});

ID:360797: cacheID:360797:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4366:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aston Villa coach John Terry in the dugout on October 20, 2018
Read Next:
John Terry in no rush to follow Frank Lampard into management
>
Read more about Christian Purslow Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
2.30pm
Jets
@
Vikings
6pm
Panthers
@
Bears
6pm
Ravens
@
Bengals
6pm
Colts
@
Jags
6pm
Dolphins
@
Patriots
6pm
Bills
@
Texans
6pm
Browns
@
Washington
9.05pm
Cardinals
@
49ers
9.05pm
Raiders
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Packers
@
Rams
9.25pm
Giants
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool76011321118
2Manchester CityMan City7520178917
3Arsenal7520156917
4Chelsea6411157813
5Aston Villa6411129313
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle733187112
7Fulham7322108211
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs6312125710
9Brentford73131313010
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton623110829
11Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest62316519
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham72231011-18
13Bournemouth7223810-28
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd621358-37
15Leicester CityLeicester7133912-36
16Everton7124715-85
17Ipswich TownIpswich7043614-84
18Crystal Palace7034510-53
19Southampton7016415-111
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves7016921-121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!