Sheffield Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford says the way Randy Lerner is handling Aston Villa is the ideal future model for English clubs.

"You have to embrace the fans like Aston Villa have done," Strafford told the Daily Mail.

"Randy Lerner has taken a club very much like Sheffield Wednesday and made it about heritage, made fans want to be part of it.

"A lot of English fans were worried about the Americans getting involved in football but I wasn't.

"They are the guys who made their cr***y gridiron and baseball more consumer friendly.

"English football, packaged properly as a community sport, is something which will resonate over the internet. We can help other clubs do it as well, to roll out the brand to serve millions. Those who do it right will have a bright future."