Birmingham Post

Stability is just what the Doctor ordered, says Villa boss

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VILLA manager Steve Bruce says the ‘stability’ and ‘drive’ being provided by the incredibly ambitious Dr Tony Xia will move the club forward.

The Chinese businessma­n arrived last June and has ploughed almost £80 million of his hard-earned cash into transfers during the last two transfer windows.

Xia’s millions have funded deals to bring Jonathan Kodjia, Scott Hogan and another 15 players to Villa Park in the last nine months in a bid to return the club to its past glories.

While promotion remains highly unlikely this time around, Bruce has his eyes firmly fixed on reaching the Premier League next season.

And the manager, who was appointed in October, admits Xia’s desire to take the club to the very top is getting the best out of those working beneath him.

Asked how important the owner has been for him personally, Bruce responded: “What the club needs more than anything is stability at the top. Any club that has been successful and any club that’s going forward has got stability at the top.

“If there’s no stability at the top, then it filters down to the bottom. And it filters to the supporters in the end and, let’s be fair, they are the most important part of any football club because without their support, there wouldn’t be a football club.

“His stability, and it’s no secret he wants the club to succeed, and he’s been successful himself. Once you get that combinatio­n of someone who is driven by success, then usually that drive drives everybody else.

“From the first time I met him I knew his standards were very, very high. He wants the club to be back where it should be, like we all do, and he’s young and enthusiast­ic and he wants the club to achieve, which is great for all of us.”

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