Villa owner wants team promoted, and to help soccer in China (The Associated Press)

The little-known businessman who bought Aston Villa is hoping to improve both the English club and Chinese soccer in general. Xia Jiantong, who goes by the English name Tony, told The Associated Press he intends to use cutting-edge management theory and sports science to bring Villa to the pinnacle of the European game - and then bring those lessons back to China. ''In China's going-out strategy, it's been proven that buying foreign firms with know-how and then bringing that back to the domestic industry has been the most efficient route,'' Xia said, adding that he would establish extensive programs for Chinese players to train at Aston Villa.