Aston Villa to be renamed Birmingham?
ASTON Villa should include 'Birmingham' in the club's name to boost international recognition of the city.
That is the bizarre wish of city council leader Mike Whitby.
He feels that the suburban-sounding Villa does not do justice to Britain's second city.
He is urging a name change, possibly to 'Aston Villa Birmingham', and plans to raise the matter with club chairman Randy Lerner.
Councillor Whitby claimed the new identity would help fans to understand where Villa play football and better promote the global brand of Birmingham. But the move is bound to infuriate fans of both Villa and Birmingham City.
Coun Whitby believes that while the team is famous across the world, it is difficult to tell from the name Aston Villa where the club is based.
He's contrasted the Villa "identity crisis" with Manchester United, where supporters are left in no doubt about the Manchester connection.
Coun Whitby said: "Aston Villa is one of Birmingham's great institutions and is an international brand that the city is proud of.
"I think that a closer association between Aston Villa and the city of Birmingham could help boost Birmingham's profile across the world.
"It is great to see the football club using the slogan 'Aston Villa - pride of Birmingham' this season."
But the proposal was immediately kicked into touch by Villa bosses, who say they have no intention of changing the 134-year-old name.
A Villa spokesman said: "The idea is utterly ridiculous and a complete non-starter."
It's thought that fans would be outraged at any break in tradition and at the risk of being associated with deadly rivals Birmingham City.
While Coun Whitby is yet to put the idea formally to Mr Lerner, he has spoken enthusiastically to friends about reasons for the name change.
Since becoming council leader in 2004, Coun Whitby has worked to build Birmingham's reputation as a "global city with a local heart".
A regular attender at top games, he has become frustrated by an apparent lack of association between Villa's "brand" and the city of Birmingham.
Villa, winners of the FA Cup seven times, the European Cup in 1982 and the former First Division seven times since being formed in 1874, counts Prince William and Tory leader David Cameron among their celebrity supporters.
And American film star Tom Hanks famously said: "I'm big on Aston Villa because the name is just so sweet. It sounds like a lovely spa."
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This is so laughable ... the Birmingham City council and its press ect. have been in bed with our scumbag neighbours throughout my lifetime (43 yrs) and now they want some profile for the city on the back of our great club. Stuff them ... I know the profile the City gets from Small Heath is a joke but they chose to undermine our club so you reap what you sow .... UP the Villa - ASTON VILLA FC.
Villa chose to include the name 'Aston' in their name. Aston is a suburb. Villa have always represented a suburb so the idea of Villa representing a city would be laughable after they've represented a suburb for 134 years.
I see no proposal's by the councilour to change West Brom's name and for pity's sake can that club not forge a identity you either represent Birmingham or Wolverhampton can't have it both ways.
AS I SAID VILLA ARE A SUBURB TEAM ALWAYS WILL BE!
Does Mike Whitby know anything about football and football clubs. There are a number in a similar situation, Arsenal and Chelsea to name only two. I haven't seen any requests for them to include London in their name. Join the eal world Mike!
The man needs to stand down NOW!
Here's a better idea and a more likely possibilitiy rename Birmingham; Aston Villa.
Then every redneck around the world will know where Aston Villa is.
What a Moron. How did he get it office???
This guy is a joker, how did he ever get his job? You would think he would be more in touch with birmingham people than this.
as an ex brummie and a villa fan since iwas knee hi to whatever and although living away from the uk for the past 40 years aston villa will always be aston villa and whoever dreamed up tis weird sugestion of putting birmingham in the name should be hung drawn & quartered (well for a start anyway)