Thank you Steve Hollis

[peter w]

I think his full worth won't be appreciated and recognised until Xia has become the owner we all hope and wish for.

[Ad@m]

Crikey - opinions change pretty quickly around here!

Isn't this the same Steve Hollis who effectively chucked the towel in on fighting relegation back in January, made dozens/hundreds of people redundant a couple of months ago, made the decision to shut the Upper Trinity for next season, and thought that a token £10 reduction on season ticket prices was acceptable on relegation?

I'm not saying all/some of those things weren't necessary but at the time each of those things happened this place was overwhelmed with condemnation.  Yet now he's gone he's being revered as a visionary.

[dave.woodhall]

Crikey - opinions change pretty quickly around here!

Isn't this the same Steve Hollis who effectively chucked the towel in on fighting relegation back in January, made dozens/hundreds of people redundant a couple of months ago, made the decision to shut the Upper Trinity for next season, and thought that a token £10 reduction on season ticket prices was acceptable on relegation?

I'm not saying all/some of those things weren't necessary but at the time each of those things happened this place was overwhelmed with condemnation.  Yet now he's gone he's being revered as a visionary.

The first maybe although hindsight has changed some views, the second was a necessary and in some cases long overdue evil, the third also makes economic sense (sadly) and the fourth split opinion. Only the first was overwhelmingly condemned at the time.

[peter w]

The Upper Trinity is closed for next season? Eh? For every game? First I've seen this.

[VILLA MOLE]

I think I will save my thanks and Judge at Christmas , I am hopeful though 

[bob]

I'm nervous about falling all over myself to thank him so emphatically.

It remains to be seen how his decisions will pan out.

[Stirchley Villain]

He wasn't doing it for plaudits.

[eamonn]

Nor the money. Just for the challenge. Like Buzz Aldrin.

[andyh]

Came in as a professional and left as a professional.

Absolutely agree Ron.
When the club absolutely needed real, real business nous, he provided it.

[cdward]

Impressed me with the team he put together, Mervyn King, David Bernstein, Brian Little.
I can't imagine it is/was easy working for Randy, with the General breathing down your neck, but i think he held his own, and brought a level of professionalism and nous that we had been missing.
Hopefully his legacy will be that he oversaw the deal that turned Aston Villa into champions again.

[SirSteveUK]

A Pat Matthews for the 21st century. Well done, and thank you. 

That would be Percy "Kindly call me Pat" Matthews - as Private Eye put it.   See - even he was reckoned to be a bit shady back in '67  LOL

[Chico Hamilton III]

Crikey - opinions change pretty quickly around here!

Isn't this the same Steve Hollis who effectively chucked the towel in on fighting relegation back in January, made dozens/hundreds of people redundant a couple of months ago, made the decision to shut the Upper Trinity for next season, and thought that a token £10 reduction on season ticket prices was acceptable on relegation?

I'm not saying all/some of those things weren't necessary but at the time each of those things happened this place was overwhelmed with condemnation.  Yet now he's gone he's being revered as a visionary.

We do seem to lurch from one extreme view to another. Wasn't he ridiculed by loads of us on here for calling us "customers" a couple of weeks ago?

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Crikey - opinions change pretty quickly around here!

Isn't this the same Steve Hollis who effectively chucked the towel in on fighting relegation back in January, made dozens/hundreds of people redundant a couple of months ago, made the decision to shut the Upper Trinity for next season, and thought that a token £10 reduction on season ticket prices was acceptable on relegation?

I'm not saying all/some of those things weren't necessary but at the time each of those things happened this place was overwhelmed with condemnation.  Yet now he's gone he's being revered as a visionary.

We do seem to lurch from one extreme view to another. Wasn't he ridiculed by loads of us on here for calling us "customers" a couple of weeks ago?

fickle :-)

[dave shelley]

Probably the only truly capable individual we've had around the place in the last five years, King and Bernstein notwithstanding due to them not being around too long.  Thanks Steve.

[Villafirst]

Why hasn't Xia kept him on? One of the few competent appointments in the last dire 5 years and he's let go??