Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: AV89 on June 17, 2016, 10:36:30 AM

Title: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: AV89 on June 17, 2016, 10:36:30 AM
Pat Murphy has tweeted that Steve Hollis has officially left the club.

Just to say a big thank you to him.  Even in six months he got more done than Fox or Faulkner managed.  Hopefully this is the start of a new and brighter era at Villa Park.

All the best Steve.  UTV!
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: stubbsyandy on June 17, 2016, 10:39:01 AM
Seconded...all the best to him
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: in exile on June 17, 2016, 10:39:17 AM
Yes indeed, thank you and sincere best wishes
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on June 17, 2016, 10:40:00 AM
Yes thanks Steve, Thanks for getting rid of the fuckwitt, hopefully we won't need you again (in a nice way)
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: PaulWinch again on June 17, 2016, 10:42:51 AM
Thanks Steve.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: stubbsyandy on June 17, 2016, 10:47:10 AM
Seconded...all the best to him
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: LTA on June 17, 2016, 10:50:56 AM
Thank you Steve for bursting the Team Fox bubble.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: flybo on June 17, 2016, 10:54:24 AM
Thank you Steve and all the best on whatever you do next
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Clampy on June 17, 2016, 10:54:43 AM
It's a shame we couldn't have kept him in some capacity, he seemed a decent and competent sort. Good luck anyway.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: paul_e on June 17, 2016, 11:08:45 AM
Yep, after all the angst over the January window I'm glad that people are now seeing him as having had a positive effect on the club, he ha da tough job to do and has done it very well.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: West Derby Villan on June 17, 2016, 11:10:00 AM
Yeah, I wasn't sure when he was appointed, but I am very glad to be proved wrong. He did a great job and is owed a debt of gratitude from Villans everywhere. thanks Steve
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Ron Manager on June 17, 2016, 11:35:25 AM
Came in as a professional and left as a professional.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: dave.woodhall on June 17, 2016, 11:38:10 AM
A Pat Matthews for the 21st century. Well done, and thank you. 
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Mostinho II on June 17, 2016, 11:39:36 AM
All of the above. Nice one Steve.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: not3bad on June 17, 2016, 11:46:25 AM
Came in as a professional and left as a professional.

Couldn't put it better than that. Thank you Mr Hollis.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Neil Hawkes on June 17, 2016, 11:59:31 AM
Thanks Steve Hollis, in your short time with us you managed to fulfill all that you promised, no mean feat and highly appreciated.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Witton Warrior on June 17, 2016, 11:59:46 AM
Came in - Did job required - Left...

If only we had someone like him 5 years ago!

If it all works out then thanks SH 

Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: PeterWithe on June 17, 2016, 12:03:00 PM
A job well done, I hope. All the best.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Lizz on June 17, 2016, 12:13:55 PM
Wish him all the best.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Toronto Villa on June 17, 2016, 12:22:06 PM
A proper executive. No bluster just did his job professionally. Even regarding January, even though it will split opinion I think in hindsight he did the right thing. He had had fast forwarded ahead in the movie and saw that the plane had already crashed into the mountain. So thanks for saving us a few million and good luck in whatever you do next.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: andyaston on June 17, 2016, 12:28:40 PM
Thank you for doing a good job, shame you were not brought in earlier, we may well still be a Premier League team if so.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: exigo on June 17, 2016, 12:44:52 PM
He got Lerner out
Randy Lerner out
Hollis seemed to understand
He'd given up the fight
And now the future's bright
Cos he got Randy Lerner out.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: mattjpa on June 17, 2016, 12:48:01 PM
The irony that the guy that appeared to be the best in that role was here for the shortest amount of time....
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: rob_bridge on June 17, 2016, 12:55:21 PM
All the best.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: dave.woodhall on June 17, 2016, 12:58:38 PM
And maybe a vice-presidency as a thank you?
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: maigrait on June 17, 2016, 01:06:11 PM
Well done Mr Hollis... much appreciated.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Villa in Denmark on June 17, 2016, 01:07:12 PM
The irony that the guy that appeared to be the best in that role was here for the shortest amount of time....

And absolutely nailed the lie that he needed to be a "football person".

Be good at what you do, do it well and get the right people around you and you're more than half way there.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: ChicagoLion on June 17, 2016, 01:10:09 PM
I was skeptical, it is the first time for ages we have had some one in an executive capacity, who has fulfilled his mandate and done a good job.
Thanks Mr Hollis.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Witton Warrior on June 17, 2016, 01:18:37 PM
Complimentary ticket to the 2020 Champions League Final...
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Ger Regan on June 17, 2016, 01:21:25 PM
He certainly got the sale sorted efficiently, and had been doing competently in reorganising the club prior to Lerner pulling the rug from under him, but I'll be saving my heartfelt thanks to him until we see that the new owner is indeed the real deal. I'm not saying he won't be, but it's too early to tell one way or another just yet.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: peter w on June 17, 2016, 01:25:30 PM
I think his full worth won't be appreciated and recognised until Xia has become the owner we all hope and wish for.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Ad@m on June 17, 2016, 01:30:19 PM
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.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: dave.woodhall on June 17, 2016, 01:33:04 PM
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.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: peter w on June 17, 2016, 01:35:20 PM
The Upper Trinity is closed for next season? Eh? For every game? First I've seen this.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: VILLA MOLE on June 17, 2016, 01:35:47 PM
I think I will save my thanks and Judge at Christmas , I am hopeful though  :)
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: bob on June 17, 2016, 01:39:25 PM
I'm nervous about falling all over myself to thank him so emphatically.

It remains to be seen how his decisions will pan out.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Stirchley Villain on June 17, 2016, 01:50:59 PM
He wasn't doing it for plaudits.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: eamonn on June 17, 2016, 02:37:03 PM
Nor the money. Just for the challenge. Like Buzz Aldrin.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: andyh on June 17, 2016, 02:39:14 PM
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.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: cdward on June 17, 2016, 03:24:46 PM
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.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: SirSteveUK on June 17, 2016, 03:48:36 PM
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
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Chico Hamilton III on June 17, 2016, 04:08:07 PM
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?
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: ClaretAndBlueBlood on June 17, 2016, 04:19:58 PM
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 :-)
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: dave shelley on June 17, 2016, 05:05:12 PM
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.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Villafirst on June 17, 2016, 06:00:31 PM
Why hasn't Xia kept him on? One of the few competent appointments in the last dire 5 years and he's let go??
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: peter w on June 17, 2016, 06:03:46 PM
I think he came in to do exactly what he has done and is probably happy to move back to his preferred area of work.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: cheltenhamlion on June 17, 2016, 06:11:29 PM
Why hasn't Xia kept him on? One of the few competent appointments in the last dire 5 years and he's let go??

He had no interest in staying after the sale. He tried to put a structure in place, the sale part took over, he bounced.

Well played Steve. He seemed a good guy.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: The Laughing Policeman on June 17, 2016, 07:41:43 PM
For someone with admitted little interest in football the boy done good. As 'Arry would say.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Grande Pablo on June 17, 2016, 09:03:31 PM
It'll shut that plank up who keeps calling Wansky up saying 'he's just an asset stripper'.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Steve67 on June 17, 2016, 09:11:23 PM
Did a lot in a short space of time. Hopefully, this takeover is the real deal, if so, well played that man!
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: berneboy on June 17, 2016, 09:30:23 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: kieron on June 17, 2016, 09:33:59 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?

The rest of Aston Villa was paid for by Randy Lerner - where did that get us?
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Villa in Denmark on June 17, 2016, 09:59:05 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?

2 years of Lerner trying to sell. Nothing happens.
6 months of Hollis trying to sell it for Lerner. Job done.


The question is do you believe we'd still be a Lerner liability or a Xia asset today if Hollis hadn't been appointed chairman?
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: four fornicholl on June 17, 2016, 10:06:42 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?

2 years of Lerner trying to sell. Nothing happens.
6 months of Hollis trying to sell it for Lerner. Job done.


The question is do you believe we'd still be a Lerner liability or a Xia asset today if Hollis hadn't been appointed chairman?
Its the Xia asset that worries me,
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: berneboy on June 17, 2016, 10:08:15 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?

2 years of Lerner trying to sell. Nothing happens.
6 months of Hollis trying to sell it for Lerner. Job done.


The question is do you believe we'd still be a Lerner liability or a Xia asset today if Hollis hadn't been appointed chairman?

That is a good point.
I give in!
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Tokyo Sexwhale on June 17, 2016, 10:19:01 PM
It's a bit early to make a judgement on him - depends on whether he sold us to a decent owner or not.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: adrenachrome on June 17, 2016, 10:57:46 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?

I think most of it is the "getting the sale through" bit, which is quite a large bit to be honest.

I can see where you are coming from though, he was was dubbed a "de facto administrator" and that is pretty close to the truth.

The thing is, he got it done, and it could have been a hell of a whole lot worse.

Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on June 17, 2016, 11:35:23 PM
There are managers and there are leaders.  After being entirely critical of his appointment on the basis I thought he had been bought in to reduce costs (which was correct), the way he went about the task in hand, the swiftness and decisiveness of his actions tell me he did a very creditable job indeed and if he has been rewarded well then he deserves it.  If in years to come we have issues with the new owner then we must also remember that there simply was no alternative to a change at the top of the club and Steve Hollis made happen within 5 months what had taken Merrill Lynch 18 months to fail at.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: JD on June 18, 2016, 09:57:13 AM
He's done what he needed to do in a lot shorter amount of time than it's taken Randy and previous appointments. Whereas things look optimistic I shall reserve judgement for a few months until we see how things pan out with Dr Tony.   
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: oswald funkletrumpet on June 18, 2016, 01:08:34 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?

2 years of Lerner trying to sell. Nothing happens.
6 months of Hollis trying to sell it for Lerner. Job done.


The question is do you believe we'd still be a Lerner liability or a Xia asset today if Hollis hadn't been appointed chairman?

dont forget lerner literally halved the price that he wanted
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Jimbo on June 18, 2016, 01:14:31 PM
I'll reserve judgement. I remember once saying the best thing Doug ever did was sell to Randy Lerner. And look how that worked out.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Clampy on June 18, 2016, 01:15:11 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?

2 years of Lerner trying to sell. Nothing happens.
6 months of Hollis trying to sell it for Lerner. Job done.


The question is do you believe we'd still be a Lerner liability or a Xia asset today if Hollis hadn't been appointed chairman?

dont forget lerner literally halved the price that he wanted

But a deal still needed to be set up and arranged and Hollis played a part in this. Besides, Lerner could end up with up to £100m as part of the deal eventually.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: ChicagoLion on June 18, 2016, 01:28:26 PM
To use a common business restructuring term, some one had to sit down with Mr Lerner and tell him, "his baby is ugly"
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Villa in Denmark on June 18, 2016, 01:33:49 PM
I don't really understand why he is receiving plaudits.

He was paid to carry out Randy Lerner's wishes to cut costs and get the sale through. There was no money spent in January.
Randy chose who to sell to.

What is the big deal?

2 years of Lerner trying to sell. Nothing happens.
6 months of Hollis trying to sell it for Lerner. Job done.


The question is do you believe we'd still be a Lerner liability or a Xia asset today if Hollis hadn't been appointed chairman?

dont forget lerner literally halved the price that he wanted

But a deal still needed to be set up and arranged and Hollis played a part in this. Besides, Lerner could end up with up to £100m as part of the deal eventually.

It's a very clever deal that works in everybody's interests to see us promoted and stay there, whilst protecting Xia from overpaying for a championship club whilst still giving Lerner a chance of getting something approaching the full value as lower table PL club.

I'd still like to know who was interested at £200M last year and if it fell apart for any other reason than Lerner flip flopping.
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: dcdavecollett on June 20, 2016, 09:29:17 PM
There's  generally positive feeling about Steve Hollis and what he has achieved.

Perhaps we should also applaud the man who appointed him...
Title: Re: Thank you Steve Hollis
Post by: Rudy65 on June 20, 2016, 10:09:37 PM
Lets judge him in say 3 years. Xia will hopefully be a great owner. Time will tell. Bit early for congratulating Hollis
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