Aston Villa chairman Tony Xia has broken his silence after the club was threatened with a winding-up order over an unpaid tax payment to HMRC.
It has been widely reported that the Villains failed to pay up £4.2million in tax last month and financial restrictions on investment outside of China has left the West Midlands club at crisis point after losing the Championship play-off final to Fulham.
CEO Keith Wyness was suspended earlier this week after it came to light that Aston Villa had failed to pay their taxes.
Now, club chief Xia has finally spoke on his personal Twitter account in a heartfelt message to fans.
“It has been very difficult two weeks as I hinted earlier I was almost heartbroken by something. Tried my best to keep beloved AV move forward. Thanks for all people standing together going through the difficult time. It was all supporters’ encouraging words to keep me/us stronger,” he said.
It has been very difficult 2weeks as I hinted earlier I was almost heartbroken by something.Tried my best to keep beloved AV move forward. Thanks for all ppl standing together going through the difficult time. It was all supporters’ encouraging words to keep me/us stronger. #UTV
— Dr. Tony Xia (@Dr_TonyXia) June 7, 2018
OPINION
Things are looking very bleak for Aston Villa. They are unable to sign players until they sell their existing ones in order to comply with Financial Fair Play rules and the cash-flow issue from China means that Xia is unable to pump money into the club on a regular basis like he has been doing during his two years at Villa Park. It seems like his best option right now would be to sell up. There have already been some rumours that the club is attracting attention from the USA, but Xia’s £100million valuation may put those off. Selling players quick would be the best option to solve this tax payment crisis, but it may only really be delaying the inevitable with so many players on big wages at Villa Park. Relegation to League One is a real possibility to Villa, but that is not even their biggest concern with a threat of administration and liquidation currently playing on the minds of fans.