Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan believes the arrival of new boss Paul Lambert has brought with it optimism for the future.
"I was meeting and greeting fans at the kit launch festival and you could really feel the positivity of everyone associated with Villa.
"That comes from having the new manager join. It's echoed by the players too.
"We're excited and we have a real buzz now as we approach the return to Bodymoor for pre-season.
"We all can't wait to get back and show the gaffer what we're all about. We are really excited. It's a new start for everyone.
"The manager has had a great start to his career and he's still only young. He's done really, really well. Hopefully he can come in and lift this club up and get us where we want to be.
"I met him for the first time on Saturday at the kit launch. I've been away on holiday and, luckily enough, when I came in the gaffer was here as well. I spoke to him and he sounded very positive.
"I used to follow him as a player at Celtic, but apart from the Norwich games last season, Saturday was the first time I'd really seen him.
"I looked up to him as a player at Celtic when he was playing with Stan Petrov and people like that." "There's a real positive vibe about the club and that's great to feel," said Bannan.
