Aston Villa's president of business operations, Francesco Calvo, participated in a fan forum at Villa Park last weekend, addressing supporters' questions in an open Q&A session. Joined by Tommy Jordan, Damian Vidagany, and Richard Stevens, Calvo faced a range of inquiries from the gathered fans. Below is a transcript of his remarks and responses.
Opening Remarks
Calvo began by thanking attendees: "First of all, thank you for being here. I am very happy that we achieved this milestone of re-establishing the fan forum. I would like this to be a tradition. Today we have an intimate audience, and hopefully a big one on Villa TV." He committed to holding such forums more frequently, stating, "You have my commitment for the future to do this with more fans and on a regular basis. I don’t know how many times per year, but we want to do this more. Listening to the fans is extremely important." He also acknowledged the Fan Advisory Board for their collaborative yet challenging feedback, which helps the club improve both on and off the pitch.
Financial Fair Play and Regulations
When asked about the current financial rules protecting certain clubs, Calvo explained the complexities: "The football ecosystem, and the governors of football, is a difficult one because it is different in different countries and different leagues, UEFA competitions too. If you don’t participate in Europe you have more freedom. It makes it difficult." He noted that the new Premier League rules encourage investment by requiring clubs to develop revenues. "This is good because we have invested a lot and our ownership group want to keep investing." Calvo highlighted that 16 of the 20 Premier League clubs are losing money, calling it a warning. He stressed the club's ambition, saying, "Unai is the most ambitious person I have met in my life. Unai stresses himself to improve every day. This is what Unai is asking us, Damian and Roberto too. It’s what the owners are asking us - how do we improve every day?" He added, "The financial regulations make us worried because we want to comply with the rules, but the ambition and what the club has achieved in three and a half years is that ambition has no limit and that if we walk in the right way, there is somehow no limit for us."
Stadium Improvements and Ticketing Issues
Calvo addressed concerns about the Doug Ellis Stand and Wi-Fi connectivity: "The first time I have gone in the Doug Ellis will be today. I will go there today as I haven’t yet, if I am honest. I will have a look. In regard to food and beverage choice, that is a complaint which we received from the FAB. Better experience and atmosphere too, they are complaints addressed to us." He admitted that access to turnstiles and food quality need improvement, with plans to address issues over the summer. On Wi-Fi, he noted that 5G may provide good connectivity, but acknowledged problems with stadium access and the club app. "I am sometimes trying to buy tickets myself to see what doesn’t work, and on Thursday my phone was working but my laptop wasn’t working - so that shows the level of detail we are working in order to understand where we need to improve." He referenced a major failure during a match against Manchester United, which the team worked to resolve for the next game. "We are not perfect, and we have a long list of things to improve, but we are working on that. Suggestions are welcome because we are trying to be as open as possible, and the more you complain the better it is [to identify problems], to a certain extent."
Communication and Away Game Screenings
Regarding the Warehouse venue, Calvo said it is still in soft opening phase, missing an emergency exit, but plans to screen away games there for Premier League and European fixtures. On communication, he admitted, "We know how important that is and that we are not perfect on that, 100 per cent sure. We are also trying to communicate."
Off-Pitch Improvements vs. On-Pitch Success
When asked when off-pitch improvements would match on-pitch performance, Calvo joked, "Sometimes I hope that Unai and the team perform a bit less so that we can catch up on them in an easier way! No, thank God they perform so well and what the club has done on the pitch has been amazing, and almost unique in modern football." He emphasized the ownership's pressure for excellence: "They want the club to be perfect, and driven by excellence and ambition - they want the club to be perfect. That’s what we are trying to do." He stressed the need for open and transparent communication, adding, "We are not where we want to be."
Club Heritage and Authenticity
On promoting Villa's history as a founder of the Football League, Calvo said, "We are all very careful. On the stage we have Scottish - I don’t understand what he says when he speaks! Spanish, Italian and finally one from Birmingham. Despite foreign ownership and us being foreign, we are fully aware that we have to keep the club authentic to itself. It cannot become a Spanish club or an Italian club. It is Villa, the essence of English football. It is the founder of the English Football League. Our past is very important to us. We don’t want to change what Villa is about and who Villa is."
Physical Ticket Cards
Calvo explained that the Premier League sets standards for digital ticketing, and Villa already issues some of the most physical cards among top-flight clubs. He expressed hope that by 2026, digital ticketing would make stadium entry as easy as boarding a plane.
Season Tickets
Regarding new season ticket holders, Calvo noted a major increase will occur once the North Stand is completed, with a natural turnover of existing holders.
Final Messages
Calvo concluded by thanking fans for the atmosphere during the Bologna second leg: "This was an unbelievable atmosphere. Not the only time this year, but it was the most recent one and it was unique. The team appreciates it a lot. We have not many more matches until the end of the season, so let’s make sure we keep supporting the team in the same way because it is powerful and it really helps the team."
