The battle to take control of Aston Villa is hotting up with a British-based consortium known as 'AV06' now entering the fray.

Deputy high court judge and leading solicitor Nicholas Padfield QC is understood to be at the helm of the new takeover bid.

Villa chairman Doug Ellis is believed to have already received a number of proposals from Padfield and his backers, who are currently unnamed.

AV06 already have plans in place for appointing David O'Leary's successor and have lined up a list of players who could be brought in to boost a squad which narrowly avoided relegation from the Premiership last season.

Consortium sources are confident their bid is as solid and competent as others on the table for Ellis to consider.

Although not making any wild promises, they are optimistic of initially making Villa a top-10 side.

Padfield and his consortium members have joined lifelong Villa fan Michael Neville and American billionaire Randy Lerner in the race to be Villa's new owners.  PA