Bruce shock at £1million transfer kitty
STEVE Bruce has been asked to plot Aston Villa’s Premier League promotion push this summer – on a £1 million budget.
The manager was stunned to learn the details of his summer transfer kitty at a meeting of the club’s hierarchy last week.
It appears this is the money that has been set aside for loan fees, as Villa could be in huge trouble with the new Financial Fair Play regulations that govern the Championship.
Bruce will otherwise have to raise cash from selling players before he can buy.
Problems have arisen because of regulations set down by the Football League.
According to the new rules, Villa can lose up to £83m in three seasons without being penalised, but their last accounts showed a deficit of £81.3m alone and unless spending is reduced drastically, the club could be hit hard.
Villa had to make a submission to the Football League in March and are now bringing their house in order, but that action has had a knock-on effect for Bruce, who looks set to be relying on loans from Premier League clubs and abroad.
The Football League has been criticised in the past for failing to take appropriate action against the likes of QPR and Leicester, who were both caught out by Financial Fair Play after incurring heavy losses.
The only action available was a fine, but now sanctions are open-ended. Points can be docked or, worse still, promotion to the Premier League can be denied.
However, Bruce has received some good news with Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho granting him the use of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone for another season.