Aston Villa chief Tom Fox says owner Randy Lerner retains passion for the club.
Lerner remains determined to sell up.
But Fox says the American billionaire owner sounds like someone who bought the club last week.
"Randy Lerner just wants to come here as a fan and enjoy the experience and know that the club is generating pride for the people to whom it matters.
"That is ultimately what we are all here to do, we can talk about the business all we want, but the business is here to enable the football, the football is here to generate pride amongst the fanbase.
"Randy is a fan, and I think he is starting to feel that pride again. He sounds fully engaged to me. he will talk to me for hours and has been fantastic for me so far.
"I believe in his love for this club and the fact that he wants to deliver this club to where it should be."
