Former Aston Villa chairman resigned to their relegation

‘Heartbroken’ former owner Doug Ellis admits: Aston Villa are going down

• Ellis, 92, says players must take responsibility for Villa’s relegation
• Believes current owner Randy Lerner should have invested more time



Doug Ellis The former Aston Villa owner Doug Ellis believes Randy Lerner should have devoted more time to the club.

The former Aston Villa owner Doug Ellis has spoken of his “heartbreak” over the club’s descent towards relegation this season, saying “it is now a certainty that they will be in the Championship next year”.

Remi Garde’s side have won just three of 26 league games this campaign and are at the foot of the table, eight points adrift of safety with 12 matches remaining.

“The only blame I can place is with the club as a whole, from the board of directors, to the manager, to the coaches, to the players,” Ellis, 92, told Sky.

“In the end, it’s the players that are really responsible. Unfortunately, they’ve not been good enough this season. It’s now a certainty that they will be in the Championship next year.”

Ellis returned as Villa chairman for a second spell in 1982, shortly after they won the European Cup. The club were relegated from the top flight in 1988 but they bounced straight back the following season where they had stayed since, also winning two League Cups in 1994 and 1996.

Ellis, nicknamed “Deadly Doug” after sacking a number of managers during his reign, sold Villa to Randy Lerner almost 10 years ago and felt that the 54-year-old American should have invested more time with the club.

“I was one of a few chairmen who got together to form the Premier League, way, way back. And here we are, bottom of the Premier League and destined to go back into the Championship. For me, I’m heartbroken.

“I’m rather sad that the man I sold to hasn’t given more of his time to come and see Aston Villa play. I’d love it [if he came to a game]. He is available on the phone but not personally, in the director’s box, which I believe he should.”

Villa travel to the Britannia Stadium to take on 10th-placed Stoke City on Saturday.

Guardian