American businessman Randy Lerner put Aston Villa up for sale on Monday after eight years in control of the Premier League club, saying he was drained by the "week-in, week-out battles." Lerners future plans have been the subject of intense speculation following another season when the central England club -- the European Cup champion in 1982 -- came close to relegation. "I have come to know well that fates are fickle in the business of English football. And I feel that I have pushed mine well past the limit," Lerner said in a statement. "I feel further thatnow is the time for me to look for new ownership and thus new leadership." Lerner, the former owner of the NFLs Cleveland Browns, bought Villa in 2006 for 62.2 million pounds and pledged to return the club to the top of the English game. During his time as owner, Villa reached the League Cup final in 2010, losing to Manchester United, and finished sixth in the Premier League for three straight seasons from 2008-10 under manager Martin ONeill. But since ONeills departure in 2010, Villas fortunes have tumbled and a youthful team managed by Paul Lambert has narrowly avoided relegation the last two years. It finished 15th in the 20-team league this season and is desperate for investment in new signings. "The last several seasons have been week-in, week-out battles," Lerner said in his statement. "Iowe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heartIfeelIcan no longer do the job." Villa has won the English league title seven times, most recently in 1981 -- the year before the team lifted the European Cup by beating Bayern Munich 1-0. Lerner is one of a slew of American owners of clubs in the lucrative Premier League, along with Stan Kroenke at Arsenal, the Glazer family at Manchester United, John Henry at Liverpool and Ellis Short at Sunderland. Fulham, which was relegated from the top flight this season, was bought by American businessman Shahid Khan last July. Vapormax Homme Pas Cher . -- Top-seed Shahar Peer and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard advanced to the second round of the inaugural WTA Citi Open. Vapormax Off White Pas Cher . McCutchen was cut before the series opener against Seattle on Monday night, when Lewis was set for his first start for Texas since July 18, 2012. Texas selected Lewis contract from Triple-A Round Rock. http://www.vapormaxsolde.fr/basket-vapor...-grossiste.html. In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil. Vapormax Homme Moins Cher . But the young forward is more than willing to shed a little blood if thats what it takes to make the team this season. "It caught me pretty good, dazed me for that shift, but I didnt want to be off the ice for too long," he said after practice, his lip still bleeding a little despite the plastic stitches holding it together. Vapormax Blanche Solde . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July.TORONTO - FIFA has launched the latest salvo in defence of artificial turf at the 2015 Womens World Cup in Canada.In an article on FIFA.com, FIFA consultant Eric Harrison says artificial turf is a credible alternative to natural turf.And Harrison says artificial turf makes sense for Canadas climate.In countries like Canada, where most of the country experiences extremely harsh winters, preparing high quality natural turf venues is a challenge ... A late winter would bring incredible pressure to bear on preparing such grounds for the Women’s World Cup, he said.The majority of stadiums in Canada have accepted that only football turf is a credible surface to meet the demands of the weather and usage to which they wish to subject the fields.FIFA rules permit the use of artificial turf provided it meets certain standards.The world governing body of soccer and the Canadian Soccer Association, in its role as the tournaments national organizing committee, have been forced on the defensive over the World Cup playing surface via a lawsuit filed by a group of elite female players.The complaint is currently before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, which is mulling over a request from the women for an expedited hearing.Harrison, described by FIFA as an independent consultant, was part of the recent FIFA inspection tour that visited World Cup venues in Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver.In the interview, Harrison touches on a major platform of the womens complaint, that they are being discriminated against since the mens World Cup has always taken place on grass. If there was a climatic condition that warranted its usage, I would recommend it for the mens World Cup as it is currently already used in World Cup qualifiers, Champions League games and many leading football leagues, Harrison said. If it suffices for this elite level then it is obviously suitable for elite football competition.Hampton Dellinger, lawyer for the players group, dismissed Harrisons arguments. Mr. Harrisons longstanding ties to FIFA undercut any claim that he is independent, Dellinger said in a statement Friday. And his refusal to acknowledge the problems with plastic pitches in matches such as Andorra-Wales or the success of premier temporary grass fields at Womens Euro 2013 suggest hes not the expert FIFA claims him to be.For anyone to suggest that the mens World Cup would be played on fields likened to concrete such as B.C. Place is laughable.The World Cup final is scheduled for B.C. Place.The women want temporary grass surfaces installled, or, where available, games moved to venues with real grass.ddddddddddddHarrison also says laying a temporary grass surface over turf has not been successful due to the inability of the natural turf to form a stable surface.This can be dangerous to players as unsure footing results in players being cautious of how they move and turn on the surface, and in the worst-case scenario it can result in slippage of the boot on the surface, leading to overstretching of ankle ligaments and potential ACL injuries.While FIFA permits play on sanctioned turf, grass remains players preferred surface. Harrison seemed to touch on that in a indirect way.Football turf is a credible alternative, but if a good quality natural turf surface exists then embrace it, use it, enjoy it, Harrison concluded. However, if it is not possible to grow and maintain good quality natural turf for whatever reason, then football turf is a good alternative and its increased usage verifies this position.The CSA has retained a consultant of its own to test the World Cup playing surfaces to determine they meet FIFA standards. Those results are expected in early 2015.FIFAs executive committee has already ratified the decision to use artificial turf pitches at the tournament.Tatjana Haenni, FIFAs deputy director of the competitions division and head of womens competitions, delivered FIFAs position in person during the recent inspection trip when she said there was no Plan B.Harrison argues that preparing natural grass is particularly challenging in countries like Canada that have severe weather conditions.The fields in these northern latitudes are generally in poor condition after a long winter, with the natural turf appearing brown after many months without sunlight because they have been covered in snow. Furthermore, the effects of frost heave can leave many natural turf surfaces uneven, requiring extensive relevelling. Often, it is not until July/August that the natural turf has recovered sufficiently to be deemed to be in optimum condition.BMO Field in Toronto was just such a case this year after a long winter.Harrison took aim at another player argument, citing studies which concluded that the game at elite level was essentially the same on both football turf and natural turf.Harrison studied polymer science at Liverpool University and has a PhD from Loughborough University. He has served as chairman of the European Standards Committee on Sports Surfaces.The 24-team Womens World Cup runs June 6 through July 7.---Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '