Villa man seen stumbling out of spanish bar prior to game.

[dave.woodhall]

No idea who owns it now.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Never a great Doug fan but wish him well ......

[TimTheVillain]

I think that Doug's idea of insolvency and everyone else's idea are two different things. He was brought up as a child of the depression, and was absolutely paranoid about getting into debt. That was the underlying principle behind his every move, for good or ill.

Never a lender or a borrower be!

Time warp Doug - and a very unpleasant man to boot.

That's my final word on the subject .

[Clampy]

Ian Taylor goes to away games and he's called a legend. An 87 year old former chairman does the  same and he gets abuse. It's a shame some people on here can't just let things go.

[TimTheVillain]

Ian Taylor goes to away games and he's called a legend. An 87 year old former chairman year old does the  same and he gets abuse. It's a shame some people on here can't just let things go.

Not the best analogy I've ever read !

[Small Rodent]

Ian Taylor goes to away games and he's called a legend. An 87 year old former chairman year old does the  same and he gets abuse. It's a shame some people on here can't just let things go.

I think there are 87 year-old ex-SS guards that get less abuse.

[Chris Smith]

"I bear more grudges,
Than lonely high court judges"

[E I Adio]

If you think we muddled along with mediocrity when Ellis was in charge you should have been around pre Ellis when the club was variously a Victorian relic and an absentee owners' plaything.

Like many on here I have met Ellis and found him on the whole likable and compared with other entrepreneurs of his generation - of whom I also met and knew a few, from Emile Savundra to Jim Slater to Freddie Laker to Joe Kagan - straight dealing.   I found him a vain man but that is not uncommon with self made men who on the whole did more good for Villa than bad.   That in the process he did well for himself  goes with the principle that entrepreneurs make the world go round.   I do not subscribe to that but it is so embedded in the system, like Graham Taylor said in his match summary on Radio 5 last Saturday about losing players on international duty it is a fact of life, so live with it.

Doug Ellis is Doug Ellis.   He is part of Villa history.   Live with it.

Suggesting that Doug was straight dealing compared to a fake doctor and insurance fraudster, an asset stripper who brought misery to thousands and a convicted thief and tax evader is faint praise indeed.

I agree that it's the way of the world, but as you suggest, you don't have to like it.

[sfx412]

A fall at his age can be very serious, it's often the beginning of the end for a lot of elderly people so it's fortunate for him that he's been given the all clear.

indeed it is Chris.

[sfx412]

What Doug was or wasn't, is or isn't, I just can't see the point of any ill will towards an old man of 87. Villa fan or not.

could not agree more. When in charge I was never impressed although he gave us some interesting times.
Now he's 87 and is doing a great impression as a fine ambassador for the club even if his brief interviews still seem as odd as ever, so why the need to bring up long past memories I know not.
Unlike many associated to Villa he always brings a smile to my face, long may he prosper.

[WikiVilla]

For the handshake with Abramovich alone, he should ascend some of the flak

[pauliewalnuts]

For the handshake with Abramovich alone, he should ascend some of the flak

One of the funniest moments in following Villa in recent years.

Look at that for a shit eating grin.

[Risso]

I think that Doug's idea of insolvency and everyone else's idea are two different things. He was brought up as a child of the depression, and was absolutely paranoid about getting into debt. That was the underlying principle behind his every move, for good or ill.

The fact is that we had reached our agreed overdraft limit, our current liabilities outstripped our assets by a long way, and the only thing keeping us solvent was the value of land and player registrations.  We had resorted to flogging off bits of land to raise cash.  If Lerner hadn't arrived, it would have to have been player sales next.

[Risso]

A fall at his age can be very serious, it's often the beginning of the end for a lot of elderly people so it's fortunate for him that he's been given the all clear.

indeed it is Chris.

Indeed.  My nan was 93, had all her marbles and was generally in fine fettle.  She fell over, broke her hip, and died as a result of the ensuing operation.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

If Lerner hadn't arrived, it would have to have been player sales next.

Not a lot has changed then, we'll be selling Young in the Summer, Milner and Barry previously.