Far from a firing or departure on bad terms, according to the Aston Villa website, Chris Heck is simply moving back to the United States to be with his family and will not renew his contract. In a deal that is set to expire at the end of the current season, the lack of a renewal could simply be a partnership that has met its natural course.
For many, however, the timing of his departure doesn't quite add up. The President of Business Operations has overseen record revenue for Villa and was the lead on a project that would expand Villa Park while not affecting attendance during its completion.
In terms of leaving while the ride is on the upswing, Heck appears to have done just that. There have been two glaring issues that concern supporters that would fall within his sphere of influence. First, the notable and significant ticket price hike and the continued reality of what PSR penalties could mean for AVFC.
Even so, it's reasonable to assume that not too much would go on without the know-how of V Sports and Nassef Sawiris. At the end of the day, someone in Heck's position is to execute the aims of his bosses, as will be the case of his eventual successor. In reality, one person should not receive too much blame or credit either way when discussing the business side of the sport.
Possible actual explanation for leaving Aston Villa
In the behind-the-scenes aspects of multi-million-pound, globally significant companies, anything can be true. Some speculate that Heck is serving as the 'fall guy.' Others believe that the next person will function in more or less the same capacity either way.
What is beyond dispute is that Heck played a big role in Villa's current rise to prominence and helped to provide excitement surrounding the club, like the VP expansion. How tickets were handled and fans displaced are valid points to critique of his tenure. If his leaving is truly simply a matter of wishing to move on, fair enough. On the other hand, if it is an attempt to hold someone accountable at the corporate level, Aston Villa fans will have this confirmed soon enough.