Yes, Mr President

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Ex-players -
Brian Little or Charlie Aitken

Non-players -
Sir Mervyn King or Lord Digby Jones [ex CBI Director General - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digby_Jones ]

Coincidence that I heard Digby Jones give speeches on three different occasions in about 18 months.
He bigged up his love for the Villa every time! Totally inappropriate to the occasion and audience!
I warmed to him enormously after the first one and tried to kiss him passionately after the other two.
But only in a brotherly "we both love the Villa" kinda way!
;-)

[eamonn]

Not many people have heard of Charlie Aitken and he must be getting on.

[robbo1874]

I went for Sir Graham.

Honestly think if he'd had any kind of involvement whilst Faulkner was finding his feet we would have avoided the houllier and Mcleish debacles.

The man will always be a legend in my eyes. I just wish he hadn't been offered the England job as we could well have a few more than 7 titles in the bag by now if he had stayed.

[Jeff Green]

To be honest I can't think of anyone better suited for such a role than Dave Woodhall.

I am not sure he would go for the title but Club Ambassador wouldn't be too objectionable, I wouldn't have thought.

I know you guys like to pull his leg but I can't think of anyone who has been as diplomatic about the club's transition than Dave, while still retaining his integrity, by walking the fine line between proper concern and knee-jerk overreaction.

He doesn't talk in irritating PR-speak and as a proper fan his appointment would be a step nearer to getting the fans properly involved in the club.

So I would vote for Dave because every other candidate fails on at least one of the measures l have listed above.

Whether he would want it or not is another matter.

[London Villan]

SMK for me, but is this even likely to happen or is it something the club are seriously considering?

[dave.woodhall]

To be honest I can't think of anyone better suited for such a role than Dave Woodhall.

I am not sure he would go for the title but Club Ambassador wouldn't be too objectionable, I wouldn't have thought.

I know you guys like to pull his leg but I can't think of anyone who has been as diplomatic about the club's transition than Dave, while still retaining his integrity, by walking the fine line between proper concern and knee-jerk overreaction.

He doesn't talk in irritating PR-speak and as a proper fan his appointment would be a step nearer to getting the fans properly involved in the club.

So I would vote for Dave because every other candidate fails on at least one of the measures l have listed above.

Whether he would want it or not is another matter.

Arise, noble peasant.

[DeKuip]

If we're going to have someone talking on our behalf then we needs someone who talks senses every time he opens his mouth.
As that rules out anyone involved in football I propose Benjamin Zephaniah.

[Jimbo]

At first I thought Sir Graham would be an obvious choice for this role, but the more I think about it perhaps a non-football person would be better. There would certainly be no danger of interference on the football side of things. So, Sir Merv gets my vote. He's well known, respected, speaks well and loves the Villa.

On a related note, the mention of Benjamin Zephaniah also got me thinking. Wouldn't it be ace to be the first football club to appoint a poet laureate. Commission someone like Zephaniah to write a collection of Villa poems, perhaps do recitals at the Holte Suite, create poems to mark special occasions (our 140th anniversary, for instance). He's a Villa fan, a proud Brummie, but just as importantly he's a normal working class bloke, one of us. In terms of PR, it would certainly grab headlines, elevate our profile and cement our place as a pioneering club, not just a football club but a cultural institution.

[Dante Lavelli]

On a related note, the mention of Benjamin Zephaniah also got me thinking. Wouldn't it be ace to be the first football club to appoint a poet laureate. Commission someone like Zephaniah to write a collection of Villa poems, perhaps do recitals at the Holte Suite, create poems to mark special occasions (our 140th anniversary, for instance). He's a Villa fan, a proud Brummie, but just as importantly he's a normal working class bloke, one of us. In terms of PR, it would certainly grab headlines, elevate our profile and cement our place as a pioneering club, not just a football club but a cultural institution.

Fantastic idea and wouldn't be hard to arrange I imagine.

[Ads]

To be honest I can't think of anyone better suited for such a role than Dave Woodhall.

I am not sure he would go for the title but Club Ambassador wouldn't be too objectionable, I wouldn't have thought.

I know you guys like to pull his leg but I can't think of anyone who has been as diplomatic about the club's transition than Dave, while still retaining his integrity, by walking the fine line between proper concern and knee-jerk overreaction.

He doesn't talk in irritating PR-speak and as a proper fan his appointment would be a step nearer to getting the fans properly involved in the club.

So I would vote for Dave because every other candidate fails on at least one of the measures l have listed above.

Whether he would want it or not is another matter.

There are too many billionaire media types in the game as it is.

[Mister E]

To be honest I can't think of anyone better suited for such a role than Dave Woodhall.

I am not sure he would go for the title but Club Ambassador wouldn't be too objectionable, I wouldn't have thought.

I know you guys like to pull his leg but I can't think of anyone who has been as diplomatic about the club's transition than Dave, while still retaining his integrity, by walking the fine line between proper concern and knee-jerk overreaction.

He doesn't talk in irritating PR-speak and as a proper fan his appointment would be a step nearer to getting the fans properly involved in the club.

So I would vote for Dave because every other candidate fails on at least one of the measures l have listed above.

Whether he would want it or not is another matter.

Arise, noble peasant arselicker. There's no way you'll get free H&V subscriptions.

[Ryu]

On a related note, the mention of Benjamin Zephaniah also got me thinking. Wouldn't it be ace to be the first football club to appoint a poet laureate. Commission someone like Zephaniah to write a collection of Villa poems, perhaps do recitals at the Holte Suite, create poems to mark special occasions (our 140th anniversary, for instance). He's a Villa fan, a proud Brummie, but just as importantly he's a normal working class bloke, one of us. In terms of PR, it would certainly grab headlines, elevate our profile and cement our place as a pioneering club, not just a football club but a cultural institution.

Fantastic idea and wouldn't be hard to arrange I imagine.

Love that idea.

 I agree that a high(ish) profile figure to represent the club would be useful from a PR perspective.  Merv King is an interesting idea and if he was up for it I think it would be good for the clubs image, although it doesn't seem likely to me unless anyone knows something I don't.

If we were going with an ex player I would say Little or Withe.  Well known enough to be respected but their management careers are probably behind them. 

[Weedy]

There's also Prof. Carl Chinn.

[peter w]

I'd go for someone like Des Bremner. It needs to be an avuncular figure and not just a popular one. I think that would rule out sir Bri as he's just too popular.

[Yossarian]

I'd go for someone like Des Bremner. It needs to be an avuncular figure and not just a popular one. I think that would rule out sir Bri as he's just too popular.

Sir Brian is very avuncular. I have always wanted him to sit me on his knee and read Where The Wild THings Are to me.