Steve Bruce warns of major departures from Aston Villa
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has warned that a lot of player could leave the club due to financial difficulties.
The club, who are owned by businessman Tony Xia, are in serious financial trouble as they look to recuperate the funds necessary to meet Financial Fair Play regulations.
Some of their brightest talents such as Jack Grielish and Jonathan Kodija may have to be sold in order to raise between £40-45 million to avoid being penalised by FFP.
The Birmingham-based club have been in financial turmoil for some months now, and the trouble got worse after Xia decided to sack their chief execeutive Keith Wyness over the two falling out over how to raise the necessary money.
As the 'Villains' are preparing for their first games since the agonising Championship Play-Off final defeat to Fulham in May, manager Steve Bruce has warned of the potential sales that may be necessary.
"We don't want to lose Grealish, Kodjia, Chester, but the inevitability is that we might have to, so let's get ready for it.
"We have to keep the club up and running and keep it in line with Financial Fair Play." the former Hull City manager said.
Bruce has accpeted that it will not be an easy few months for the club, and that other teams might take advantage of their situation by waiting until the last in the transfer window before bidding for their players, knowing the financial problems they have would force them to accept the bids regardless.
"We're having a tough time at the moment but we've got to try and steer our way through it and ride the storm." the ex-Man Utd captain concluded.