Aston Villa's short-term financial situation is positive, with owner Tony Xia providing the club with a cash injection that should cover upcoming bills.

The West Midlands outfit were in crisis at the start of the month when they were served with a winding up order from HMRC after missing a payment.

And, that prompted serious fears about the future of the club, particularly as Xia has serious cash-flow problems that meant he couldn't get funds out of China.

However, with bills due at the end of this month, many felt Villa could be in a similar position but the Express & Star are reporting that Xia has sorted those payments.

Yet, this won't solve any long-term problems, with the owner still looking for outside investment and the same report states that he is in discussions with a group who are willing to invest £40m in return for a controlling stake.

Even if that investment does come in to the club, the Championship side are still set to sell key players such as Jack Grealish as they look to raise an additional £40m to comply with FFP regulations.

The Verdict

Villa's dire situation is well-known but fans will be pleased that the payments are ready to be made for this month's bills.

Obviously the issues still remain about how they can cope over a longer period but at least their immediate concerns will be eased.

This also gives Xia more time to find a solution that will help the club in the years to come.

Thoughts, Villa fans? Let us know in the comments below.