LIV Golf are reportedly set to lure Chris Heck from Aston Villa in a major coup. The Premier League club announced the imminent departure of their president of business operations this week.

Heck will leave Villa at the end of the season. The club say that the 56-year-old is returning to the USA to be closer to his family. He has held his position at Villa Park since 2023 and has reportedly been the de facto chief executive.

According to the Telegraph, Heck has been lined up for a position at LIV Golf. It is claimed that he will take on a similar role to the one he harboured at Villa, overseeing the Saudi-backed league’s business operation.

Heck previously had similar jobs with the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA and New York Red Bulls of MLS.

Villa confirmed his departure in a statement earlier this week. He said: “Aston Villa is one of the best clubs in the world, and I am grateful to have had an opportunity to contribute to their success over the past two years.

“From the beginning, we laid out a clear strategic road map, and I am so happy with the unrivalled progress we have made on that plan. In doing so, we have built a world-class team off the pitch to match the one that Unai Emery has built on it. I am an Aston Villa fan for life and look forward to seeing the Club continue to make history.”

Club chairman Nassef Sawiris added: “We would like to thank Chris for his vision and leadership over the last two years.

“Through strategic partnerships, sponsorships, refurbished hospitality spaces and much more, he has helped establish AVFC as a world-class operation and commercial success. We wish him all the best in all his future endeavours.”

While at the 76ers, Heck worked alongside now-CEO of Liv Golf, Scott O’Neil, who replaced Greg Norman in January. The former boss of Merlin Entertainments has been determined to improve relations with golf’s governing bodies.

During his brief tenure, O’Neil has secured television rights deals with ITV in the UK and Fox in the USA. LIV Golf are also widely understood to be back in talks over becoming accredited by the official world rankings.

Meanwhile, a merger deal with the PGA Tour remains a possibility.