Yes, Mr President

[pauliewalnuts]

I'd suggest Mervyn King.

[Jarpie]

Either Sir Brian or John Gregory, both comes across very well in interviews and are highly regarded by the fans. BFR comes with too much baggage and tends to speak before he thinks so he's controversy waiting to happen - not a good choice. Sir Graham has effectively retired and I doubt he's interested.

Dean Saunders also comes across well but is looking for a managerial job and won't probably be around too long. Paul Merson could be another candidate but he's already working for Sky and I doubt Villa could pay his salary and Sky might not like the idea.

Sir Brian is probably better known outside Villa so he'd be probably better choice than JG. Townsend also could be a good choice, still seems to like Villa and is liked by the fans.

[Billy Walker]

Mervyn King is a great shout.

[pauliewalnuts]

Paul Merson is at best semi literate. Townsend is a pundit and not supposed to be pro one specific club. John Gregory is a likeable man, Villa through and through, but a loud gobshite with a tendency to put his foot in his mouth. Sir Brian is not high profile enough outside Villa.

If we are looking at the likes of Merson or Gregory then I'd rather we didn't have anyone in this position. They're supposed to talk eloquently about the club, they'd need to be diplomatic, and they'd need to have a certain gravitas at all times.

Most of the people suggested on this thread come across as people who'd probably just turn into claret and blue versions of that Dave Whelan idiot.

[paul_e]

Paul Merson is at best semi literate. Townsend is a pundit and not supposed to be pro one specific club. John Gregory is a likeable man, Villa through and through, but a loud gobshite with a tendency to put his foot in his mouth. Sir Brian is not high profile enough outside Villa.

If we are looking at the likes of Merson or Gregory then I'd rather we didn't have anyone in this position. They're supposed to talk eloquently about the club, they'd need to be diplomatic, and they'd need to have a certain gravitas at all times.

Most of the people suggested on this thread come across as people who'd probably just turn into claret and blue versions of that Dave Whelan idiot.

I agree on all of those names.  Mervyn King seems to be the best suggestion to me.

[PeterWithesShin]

Southgate is the only one I can think of and obviously that is out now he has the U21 job.

Otherwise I agree with pretty much everything Paulie just said.

[danno]

Why exactly would they need a high profile outside of all things Aston Villa?

Being a club with an owner who doesn't give many interviews, any president would probably

gain that profile naturally just by being in a position to speak to the press on the clubs behalf.


another vote for Brian Little from me.

[Mister E]

It all depends what the terms of reference are.
For gravitas and broad commonsense, I thought of Mervyn King (as have others).

There are very few ex-players that would do it for me. Of all - in terms of being reasonably current, reasonably articulate and reasonably international - I'd go for Martin Laursen.

But it's all down the brief that they're given.

[PeterWithesShin]

Laursen is a good shout. And I agree that a lot would depend on what the role is. A few soundbites here and there or the public face of Aston Villa, makes a big difference.

[Damo70]

Laursen is a good shout.

Seconded.

[Clampy]

I did think of Laursen just after I posted but isn't he a coach somewhere?

[UK Redsox]

Prince George of Cambridge

[DB]

Alan Wright? I have always think he comes across well when interviewed...and refers to Villa as 'we'.

[UK Redsox]

Nige ?

[Damo70]

Nige ?

That's a "monster" idea. So long as he doesn't have a tendency to fiddle while Rome burns.