Arise Sir Doug

[Witton Warrior]

The best thing is that there will be a little media interest in the Villa for 12 hours ("Doug who?") and the Cameron/Bendall link will pop up again and then we can lay back down as Chelsea beat us an normal service is resumed...

[Vanilla]

It seems that it is diddy Dave Cameron's links to the club that have got him this honour rather than anything else.

But hey, if an outdated institution wants to give an outdated institutional award to a man, who is an institution in his own household, then so be it.

[saunders_heroes]

It seems that it is diddy Dave Cameron's links to the club that have got him this honour rather than anything else.

But hey, if an outdated institution wants to give an outdated institutional award to a man, who is an institution in his own household, then so be it.

How have you worked that out? Like it or not Ellis does bucket loads of work for charity and has been awarded for it. Why be so bitter about it?

[kippaxvilla2]

He's an 88 year old man who is widely acknowledged for charity work.  I believe he helped raise 6m for Little Aston Hospital.  So I don't begrudge him some late life recognition if it makes him happy.

I had to laugh at the Central News report earlier where he has already asked to be addressed as Sir Doug.  He is very humble.

[Damo70]

It's true then. I thought I might have dreamt it when I heard the news late last night. Full credit for the charity work, not so much credit when it comes to the Witton Lane stand and even less credit when it comes to the treatment of Tony Barton. But then no-one said you have to be perfect to get a knighthood.

[Legion]

Just received this:

So Doug the Unstable finally bought a knighthood - services to pulling European champions apart, raping Aston Villa of money and not giving a fuck about anyone but himself. With a fair wind 2012 will be the year that the old ****** finally dies a long, painful and horrid death, ******. The Queens honours list is enough of a joke now it's just an absolute disgrace.

Charming.

[saunders_heroes]

Who wrote that piece of filth?

[Legion]

Someone called Brian Berry. No idea who he is.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He's an 88 year old man who is widely acknowledged for charity work.  I believe he helped raise 6m for Little Aston Hospital.  So I don't begrudge him some late life recognition if it makes him happy.

I had to laugh at the Central News report earlier where he has already asked to be addressed as Sir Doug.  He is very humble.

I'd imagine he gave far move of his time than money to raising charity funds. There are plenty of wonderful people out there that do the same. All should be commended for their efforts. Yes there is a political link with this knighthood, yes Doug Ellis has the media contacts to raise his profile but in the end it's generally a thankless task and anybody that receives any type of award for charity work probably deserves it.

[5ft811st2 Durham]

In my view rich people are morally obligated to give generously to charities.

Those who don't are basically scum, those who do are doing the right thing and they know it, but there's no way they should be rewarded for it in this way, for the simple reason that wealth should not be able to buy gongs.

Certainly I can't think of a rich person who has cared so much about charity that they were prepared to compromise their gilded 5 star life style. 

[Chris Smith]

In my view rich people are morally obligated to give generously to charities.

Those who don't are basically scum, those who do are doing the right thing and they know it, but there's no way they should be rewarded for it in this way, for the simple reason that wealth should not be able to buy gongs.

Certainly I can't think of a rich person who has cared so much about charity that they were prepared to compromise their gilded 5 star life style. 

I spoke to somebody who works in a fairly senior position for an adult literacy charity a while a go and she says things like this do wonders for their fund raising. The award shows other wealthy people that their efforts will be recognised.

You might not like it but I'm sure the people who benefit do.

[Brend'Watkins]

Doug made the majority of his wealth out of being the chairman and main share holder of Aston Villa.  If it weren't for the club he wouldn't have had the wealth to give to charity. Aston Villa is the reason he has been knighted.  I hope he's grateful.

[pauliewalnuts]

It was interesting to read Doug talking about how he accepted 62m from Lerner when there were other, higher offers - he suggested one was 115m.

Regardless of whether or not he chose the right buyer, at that point in time, surely Doug must have had some legal obligation to secure the best deal he could for the shareholders?

[5ft811st2 Durham]

In my view rich people are morally obligated to give generously to charities.

Those who don't are basically scum, those who do are doing the right thing and they know it, but there's no way they should be rewarded for it in this way, for the simple reason that wealth should not be able to buy gongs.

Certainly I can't think of a rich person who has cared so much about charity that they were prepared to compromise their gilded 5 star life style. 

I spoke to somebody who works in a fairly senior position for an adult literacy charity a while a go and she says things like this do wonders for their fund raising. The award shows other wealthy people that their efforts will be recognised.

You might not like it but I'm sure the people who benefit do.

Fair enough I see your point, but that's still a sad indictment of what actually motivates wealthy people in this regard.

Also  it is grossly unfair that the wealthy can give a very small proportion of their immense annual income to charity and claim huge recognition  whereas the average Joe could give away half his income and no one would notice.

[SheffieldVillain]

In my view rich people are morally obligated to give generously to charities.

Those who don't are basically scum, those who do are doing the right thing and they know it, but there's no way they should be rewarded for it in this way, for the simple reason that wealth should not be able to buy gongs.

Certainly I can't think of a rich person who has cared so much about charity that they were prepared to compromise their gilded 5 star life style. 

I spoke to somebody who works in a fairly senior position for an adult literacy charity a while a go and she says things like this do wonders for their fund raising. The award shows other wealthy people that their efforts will be recognised.

You might not like it but I'm sure the people who benefit do.

Fair enough I see your point, but that's still a sad indictment of what actually motivates wealthy people in this regard.

If a piece of machinery funded by a wealthy person for a hospital saved your life or one of your family's, would you give a toss why they'd funded it or just be grateful that they had?