Aston Villa’s headaches complying with football’s financial regulations are well-publicised, stuck between trying to progress the club while trying to do so within a set of rules that make that harder than it already is.

Chris Heck’s mantra was ‘revenue, revenue, revenue’ and even with the American gone, the fact remains true, if you can only spend a percentage of what you generate, you better make sure you’re generating more and more.

Sometimes that means turning to the fans and – with a straight face – asking them to shell out more than £90 for a match ticket or several thousands for a posh seat and a nice meal.

Other times it means turning to the football department to realise assets, unfortunately in Villa’s case that has meant cashing in on first team players, or maybe not quite as emotively selling homegrown players yet to make the breakthrough.

Happily for Villa they are not only one of the best in the Premier League at doing that but one of the best in the world.

They have invested heavily...