Aston Villa have confirmed that the club's new High Performance Centre at the Bodymoor Heath training ground has officially been opened.
What's the story?
Speaking at the official opening, Villa CEO Christian Purslow said: "Creating a high-performance culture needs the right facilities. The mission of the Aston Villa Board since the summer of 2018 has been to bring our performance, strength, conditioning, rehabilitation and sports therapy functions up to 21st century standards.
"We have created a new High Performance Centre; an environment suited to 21st-century elite sports. This training complex is now one of the finest in UK sport. Work is continuing, the creation of multi-media analysis facilities, a mini auditorium, individual player coaching and meeting areas – all these final phases will be complete in time for pre-season training in July 2021.
"Today, Aston Villa has a training ground it can truly be proud of."
Dean Smith will be buzzing
While it may not be news of a big-money signing or that Jack Grealish will be staying at Villa Park for the rest of his footballing career, the club's state of the art High Performance Centre will have a major impact over the coming years.
Having a training complex built to ensure the likes of the first-team and academy have got all the tools available to them to progress and simply get better is what should ensure that the club's future remains bright.
It's a statement of ambition from the club's owners and hierarchy that they are keen to invest in matters not just on the pitch, but also in improving the club as a whole.
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It's exactly why Dean Smith should be absolutely buzzing at the news. He now has a facility that is up to top-level standards, one that can help his players improve and perhaps attract new players to the club.
That is why the new centre appears to be the latest big step in Villa's project to become a real Premier League force again.
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