Sir Graham speaks about villa's plight!

[eastie]

Former Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor has spoken out about Aston Villa's relegation plight and the frustrations over the club's future.

In an exclusive interview given to the Extra Time podcast he said fans were well within their rights to question Lerner's commitment to the club after the American's promise of Champions League football amounted to nothing.

And Taylor adds that the Villa top man should give interviews to the press so that supporters can find out more about his intentions.

Taylor said: "The problem that the fans have is not necessarily with the manager or the players.

"When he (Lerner) first came it was 'We are going to get into the Champions League but it may take us four or five years to become a Champions League side' and that was accepted by the fans.

"Once that didn't happen and the break-up of the relationship with Martin O'Neill, and the position they are in now and Randy Lerner not turning up and not doing press interviews...I think Randy Lerner has to come out and do a few more press interviews.

"Having said that I am pretty certain he is not going to do that.

"It leaves supporters here questioning who is in charge of our club?

"Is he really interested in our club?"

And Taylor added that in his experience it is important for the manager to try and keep the press onside when things get tough.

He added: "If you lose contact with your local paper then that is bad news.

"I think managing Aston Villa from managing Norwich is totally different for Paul Lambert."

[Greg N'Ash]

"I think managing Aston Villa from managing Norwich is totally different for Paul Lambert."

SUBTEXT: HE'S MORE OUT OF HIS DEPTH THAN A MIDGET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC

[Damo70]

SGT always speaks clearly, intelligently, with authority and usually explains his reasoning. I wonder what he thinks of Paul Lambert's press conferences and post match interviews?

[JUAN PABLO]

SGT always speaks clearly, intelligently, with authority and usually explains his reasoning. I wonder what he thinks of Paul Lambert's press conferences and post match interviews?

He cant be bothered to press subtitles on his remote

[dave.woodhall]

Note the phrase 'our club.' Not 'their club' or 'your club'.  Our club.

[Concrete John]

"Is he really interested in our club?"

And that one word sums up why we love you, Sir Graham!

[Concrete John]

"I think managing Aston Villa from managing Norwich is totally different for Paul Lambert."

SUBTEXT: HE'S MORE OUT OF HIS DEPTH THAN A MIDGET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC

I think SGT is far too respectful to have a dig at the manager in place.

[glasses]

Note the phrase 'our club.' Not 'their club' or 'your club'.  Our club.

Yes, but in the sentence 'It leaves supporters here questioning who is in charge of our club' suggests he is looking at it as an outsider looking in at what supporters are thinking.

He does love us though.

[andyh]

Note the phrase 'our club.' Not 'their club' or 'your club'.  Our club.

Agreed Dave.
I love that.

[Dave Clark Five]

Graham Taylor was rudely snubbed by Lerner in the early days. For such a gentleman, this is as close as he can go without calling Lerner a twat.

[NeilH]

Surely this man is the most important and influential figure in the last 30 years at Villa Park.
These words should echo through the corridors of Villa Park like a tsunami.

[cheltenhamlion]

He has stuck it up them a bit there.

[eastie]

Graham Taylor was rudely snubbed by Lerner in the early days. For such a gentleman, this is as close as he can go without calling Lerner a twat.

Well said - i am still saddened when i think how the great man was ridiculed by wolves fans and sad to say not much better by some of our own fans - a truly great man .

Back in 1991 my mother recieved a package on her birthday with a signed photo and a birthday card from the great man with a few lines written - for an england manager to do that was a great gesture.

No man in football that ive met have i ever respected more - although joe mercer came close .

[PaulWinch again]

He's right to stick it up them, we are a diabolically run club.

[Jarpie]

When I've seen/heard Sir Graham speaking, he's always made a lot of sense. Despite his poor reign as manager of the national team and not always being succesful in clubs, I'd liken him to the Sir Bobby Robson, both always came across very intelligent and true gentlemen.

We need someone like SGT at the helm of our club but sadly I don't think there are managers like that in football anymore.