VFC note with interest that Mr Ellis has decided not to have a shareholders forum this year.
We can only assume that Mr Ellis is scared to face the shareholders and fans of this club due to the poor half yearly results announced and the dissatisfaction clearly aimed at him during last years AGM.
VFC, as shareholders, have no faith in Mr Ellis and his ability to turn these results around, especially with the crisis that the manager will face in the summer with five players coming to the end of their contracts, having already let more than 10 players leave.
VFC therefore want to publicly ask Mr Ellis the following questions. If they remain unanswered they will be added to the agenda for this years AGM. We feel that these questions are reasonable issues to be reported to shareholders and supporters who have a significant interest in the club which can be prejudiced by the Chairman's block holding.
1) The Club have attempted to improve communications in recent years with bi annual supporter/shareholder meetings. How can this policy be prevented by the absence of a Chief Executive when there is an executive Chairman and board member who can address issues on past performance and future strategy?
2) As the Chairman is now 80, 15 years passed his retirement age; can he explain:
When will the new Chief Executive be appointed?
Will the new Chief Executive's responsibilities include all aspects including dealing with the manager on a day-to-day basis on player transfers, contracts and other issues? Will the new chief executive be given the freedom to perform these essential functions without interference from Mr Ellis?
Will the Chairman's role then be restricted to that of overview and elder statesman?
Given the Chairman's advancing years, when does he plan to retire and what plans for the succession of his shareholding are in place?
3) Given the reported interest in change of ownership in the summer:
Can the Chairman confirm that he has a conflict of interest in any approaches given his often expressed interest in wanting to remain as Executive Chairman and as a consequence leave negotiations to other directors?
Will the Chairman make such approaches known to the other 15000 shareholders who represent 62% of the shareholdings?
Can the Chairman confirm he would not put unreasonable demands and terms on his own shareholding if the Board considered an approach to be in the best interests of the Club and it's shareholders?
As Aston Villa could have as few as 12-13 professionals by the summer, can the Chairman confirm, at a time when he states there little or no money available for team re-building, that there hasn't been a better time for him to actively seek new investors and to give the consortia waiting in the wings the green light to enter positive talks for the good of Aston Villa Football Club?
ENDS
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