Spokesman for VFC and Chairman of Aston Villa Shareholders Association Jonathan Fear said:
'Villa Fans Combined would like an explanation from Mr Ellis as to why he continues to take on the day-to-day tasks at Aston Villa having appointed a Chief Executive?
Following his failure to win the race for James Beattie, we feel the comments coming from the player reflect a major problem at Aston Villa. The problem is Mr Ellis. The impression this 80-year-old man leaves with a great many people is negative due to his condescending manner. Referring to England Internationals such as Beattie as a 'boy' will do nothing to attract them to this club, people need to be treated with respect. James Beattie stated: "I met with Mr Ellis and Mr O'Leary but they didn't send out the same vibes as I felt here."
Players used to jump through hoops to come to Aston Villa, we are now a down graded club where players see us as lacking ambition or as a stepping stone to something bigger. This shift has come about since Mr Ellis returned and won't change until he departs.
Mr Ellis is part of the old guard business wise, Mr Langham has vast experience with two blue chip companies and is well versed in the modern business practices. With such a capable man, why is he not at the helm? It is time for Mr Ellis to be more honest, something he hasn't been very keen on being since he arrived at Villa Park, and admit he won't allow anyone but himself to run this once mighty club. One of his latest quotes claimed only a minority of fans were against him 'and he knew who they were'! I find it hard to think of a more ridiculed or hated Chairman, ridiculed by former players, managers, the press, the fans and staff and yet he blindly continues thinking the majority support him. If Mr Ellis truly believes we are the minority, we ask him to put it to the vote, if he is proved right (sic) we will step down immediately.
We call on Mr Ellis to step aside and allow Mr Langham to handle all players' negotiations and permit him to fulfil the role of being a Chief Executive. Mr Ellis, you are too old, you are too out of touch and you are too disliked to take this fantastic club forward, for the sake of everyone involved, hire a merchant bank to attract investors, become an honouree figure if you wish, and leave a legacy for Aston Villa. If he doesn't feel qualified in bringing forward investment, then VFC in combination with the Shareholders Association will happily hire a merchant bank to do the job. That is a genuine offer. We also call on any interested parties to contact us; the fans would unite behind a genuine bid.
If not we will continue to lose good staff and hover around our average league position of 10th. An average spend of between £4-6million does not buy a place in the Champions league, nor does lying about the amounts spent achieve anything other than animosity.
David O'Leary is an ambitious manager, how long do we really expect him to stay with his hands tied behind his back, new contract or not? The same can be said for Mr Langham. If they are continually blocked or frustrated then I fear they will join a long list of previous staff members who give up 'banging their heads against a brick wall'. The Berlin Wall was removed; Villa fans now have to pray for the day the Ellis wall crumbles as it stands in the way of a potentially huge club.
As ever VFC give the manager and players 100% support.
For some while now Villa fans have been asking what they can do to make a difference
and how they can express their anger and betrayal at the way that the club is being
run. Things have certainly come to a head during the transfer window where instead
of players being bought we have been told that we can no longer compete with even
the mid table teams.
Ask yourselves, after 22 years and many protestations that Mr Ellis is a top
businessman, how come we don't have any funds? What has happened to the profits?
Where is the quality squad? Why are we being out bid by the likes of Birmingham City
and Charlton? Where is the legacy for future generations? And why have we got a
man who will be 81 years old this year still ruling Villa and casting such a huge
shadow over Villa Park? Why does this man continually spurn outside investment?
Why are Villa run more like a corner shop than the giants they should be?
So we call on all Villa fans to take two minutes to send Mr Ellis a letter
expressing their concern at the way the club is run and asking for him to actively
seek new investors to hand the club over to. He must know in his heart of hearts it
is time, now you tell him.
Keep all letters non abusive and send to Mr Ellis, Aston Villa PLC, Villa Park,
Aston, Birmingham, B6 6HE.
If you have problems writing from abroad, send an email to info@villafc.com and we
will pass on your letters.
Please pass this request on to all forums, fellow Villa fans and anyone who has an
interest in Aston Villa.
ENDS
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