Francesco's vow to fans after one Heck of a storm!

FRANCESCO Calvo has promised to be open and transparent with Villa fans after replacing Chris Heck as the club's president of business operations.

- BY JOHN TOWNLEY

Heck left Villa at the end of last season, and Calvo has stepped into his shoes, fulfilling a role that is crucial to the club’s progress.

Like Heck, Calvo will be faced with big decisions, but he stressed the importance of communication with the fanbase and the Fan Advisory Board (FAB), who rarely saw or heard from Heck in official meetings, which further soured his relationship with supporters.

The American’s role was to boost revenue streams, but large sections of the fanbase were outraged at the steep cost of tickets for last season’s Champions League matches, which were priced as high as £97 for adults.

Many of his key decisions created a disconnect - something Calvo will now seek to repair.

“I know very well that in English football, the clubs are deeply connected with their communities and with their fans,” he told Villa TV.

“That's extremely important for me, for all the club and also for the owners - they're fully aware of that.

“An open and transparent approach, for me, will be key, and I know very well what the fans represent to the club and what the club represents to them.