THE roof threatened to come off Villa Park as Randy Lerner took his seat in the directors’ box on Sunday and the incoming chairman will consider expanding the ground rather more permanently as part of ambitious plans to rebuild Aston Villa as a European force.

Lerner was impressed as the rousing performance of Martin O’Neill’s team had the stadium almost shaking during the 2-0 victory over Newcastle United that lifted Villa into second in the Barclays Premiership, their highest placing since John Gregory’s players briefly led the table in October 2001.

As Lerner started talks with O’Neill, which the manager hopes will lead to the permanent arrival this week of Stilian Petrov from Celtic, in addition to at least one short-term signing, the American billionaire has also been assessing the potential of a ground that has a 42,551 capacity.

Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, admitted defeat yesterday in his bid to lure Petrov to Fratton Park, suggesting that the Bulgaria playmaker was on the verge of joining Villa. Petrov, who is on international duty, is likely to cost Villa £6.5 million.

While O’Neill attempts to conclude his first transfer business for Villa before the window shuts on Thursday, he shares his new employer’s sentiment that the club must build slowly if they are to sustain ambitions of competing with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Lerner, Villa’s majority shareholder after buying out Doug Ellis last week, stated in his initial bid via the Stock Exchange 15 days ago that he wanted to invest heavily in improving Villa Park and the training ground, as well as buying new players.

Lerner, who has made commercial potential a priority for the Cleveland Browns American football franchise that he owns, knows that he has to fill the empty seats at Villa Park first.

Keith Harris, Lerner’s adviser during the takeover, said: “There’s planning permission to increase Villa Park to 50,000, but last season the club struggled to fill the 42,000 capacity. There’ll be some changes to design, which will hopefully be fan-supportive and fan-friendly.”

Retaining the services of Gareth Barry has been a fillip for O’Neill, and not only because of the player’s ability. The in-form captain signed a new four-year contract on Sunday, but in addition to his quality, Barry’s decision to stay legitimised the positive nature of O’Neill’s appointment.