PAUL Faulkner has revealed that new signings will be Paul Lambert’s “next order of business” after confirming the incoming manager will be given the board’s backing to shake up the squad.

Villa’s chief executive admits there will be several ins and outs during the close season as Lambert attempts to freshen up the playing staff he inherited from Alex McLeish.

Lambert has already given chairman Randy Lerner a list of potential transfer targets to add to Australian international midfielder Brett Holman, who had already agreed a deal to join the club.

And Faulkner reckons sacking McLeish at the end of last season and appointing Lambert by early June has given Villa plenty of time to decide who should leave and who should be recruited.

There could be transfers before the players return for pre-season on July 5 but with two-and-a-half months still to go before the August 31 deadline, Villa will be a as thorough as possible.

“We’re looking forward to the start of the season,” explained Faulkner.

“We wanted to act decisively at the end of last season to give ourselves a little bit of time.

“It is still early June. We have just under a month before the players come back for pre-season and just under ten weeks until the Premier League season kicks off so in football that’s quite a long period of time.