Keith Wyness rips into ‘hiding’ Aston Villa chief as controversy intensifies
Aston Villa’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed business president Chris Heck is “hiding behind” financial rules after raising ticket prices.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs –insisted the American is “not popular” with fans of the Midlands giants.
Villa are controversially charging up to £97 a ticket for home Champions League matches this season having already hiked season ticket prices.
The club’s Supporters Trust has branded the club “out of touch” for the move, which comes amid a cost of living crisis.
Heck responded, claiming that “achieving our sporting ambitions while complying with financial stability regulations requires difficult decisions”.
Villa came close to a Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) breach last term and were forced to sell Douglas Luiz to avoid punishment.
Heck ‘hiding behind’ FFP rules at Aston Villa, says Wyness
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I think he’s hiding behind that, to be honest.
“If you look at the amount of money it brings in over the four home games in the Champions League, Villa might make £1.2-£1.3million.
“In the grand scheme of things, that’s less than the prize money for winning just one game.
“Chris Heck has had a lot of abuse, and it isn’t the first time.
“There have been turnstile issues, issues with the toilets – a lot of fans feel he doesn’t understand football, and is all about revenue instead.
“To hide behind the FFP situation is wrong.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of Villa fans and he’s not popular.”
In other news, Villa fans rage as ‘horrific’ Ollie Watkins footage re-analysed.
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