Paul Faulkner has called for steady progress at Villa next season – but admits the new-found togetherness following Paul Lambert’s appointment can create a “really positive force”.

Ideally, the claret and blues will aim to return to the top half of the Premier League table after flirting with relegation under Alex McLeish last term.

But, despite the feelgood factor at Villa Park, the club’s chief executive would like supporters to be quietly optimistic rather than expecting an instant transformation.

Faulkner admits last season’s 16th-place finish and nervy survival battle was simply unacceptable for Villa, whose relegation fears were only banished on the penultimate weekend.

“We certainly want to be better than last season, there wouldn’t be much margin for error if we weren’t,” said Faulkner.

“We’re ambitious but we’re mindful that it takes time.

“It’s not something where you can just click your fingers and success or improvement happens overnight.