Sir Doug Ellis donates £1 million

[Chico Hamilton III]

A bit of a stretch to say you were brought up on us winning the European Cup etc. those glory days lasted, what, 2, 3 years maximum?

Just goes to show what our potential was once Doug's hand had been wrestled from the steering wheel. Lerner's a shite owner but that doesn't change Doug's record of underachievement and missed opportunities

[LeeB]

As I said, we were never perennial relegation strugglers under Ellis.
These last 5 seasons have been an absolute disgrace.

I don't disagree with the last line, just don't see why it has to come with the beatification of Ellis.

Beautification? That's a tad over the top.
I'd take Ellis over Lerner any day of the week. I don't understand why that offends you so much. Unless you've enjoyed these last 5 humiliating, embarrassing years.

I haven't enjoyed them, but it still beats standing with 12,000 others watching us limp to a draw at home to Barnsley, and wondering as a 10 year old how it relates to stories of achievement I'd been bought up on.

A bit of a stretch to say you were brought up on us winning the European Cup etc. those glory days lasted, what, 2, 3 years maximum?

And why did they only last 2-3 years again?

[Dave Javu]

Has he been on the telly talking about his donation yet?

[Clampy]

Back to the donation, fair play to him. He didn't have to and it's for a worthy cause.

[pooligan]

One thing you had to say about Ellis, he looked after himself .Someone will no doubt put me right  if i am wrong,but i believe he never put any real money of his own into the club and i think he was also the first ever club chairman to pay himself a wage .As bad as Learner has turned out to be, he at least has put  his own family money in.

[Pete]

One thing you had to say about Ellis, he looked after himself .Someone will no doubt put me right  if i am wrong,but i believe he never put any real money of his own into the club and i think he was also the first ever club chairman to pay himself a wage .As bad as Learner has turned out to be, he at least has put  his own family money in.

There's no real evidence of him putting money in, and a few years ago David Conn totted up how much he'd made. Over £29 million.  Link

[Jane]

Nice one Doug. And even though I work at UoB, I'm not just toeing the party line.

How did i know it would turn into a criticism of him not donating more (amongst other things hardly relevant to the donation).

[silhillvilla]

The more we have Lerner the more ai appreciate Doug. Much respect.

Too right. At least Ellis managed to get us relegated properly.

Say what you like about him but he has always had Villa's interests at heart. A true football man. Can we say the same about Lerner?

Well said.

[stuart445]

As I said, we were never perennial relegation strugglers under Ellis.
These last 5 seasons have been an absolute disgrace.

I don't disagree with the last line, just don't see why it has to come with the beatification of Ellis.

Beautification? That's a tad over the top.
I'd take Ellis over Lerner any day of the week. I don't understand why that offends you so much. Unless you've enjoyed these last 5 humiliating, embarrassing years.

I haven't enjoyed them, but it still beats standing with 12,000 others watching us limp to a draw at home to Barnsley, and wondering as a 10 year old how it relates to stories of achievement I'd been bought up on.

A bit of a stretch to say you were brought up on us winning the European Cup etc. those glory days lasted, what, 2, 3 years maximum?

Yeah over in 2, 3 years max, who was owner of villa in those years.  Oh yes your Beloved Doug Ellis, he was such a excellent owner wasn't he, European Champions best in Europe over in 2 to 3 years relegated after 5,  It's there for all to see I can't see why everyone doesn't see good old Doug like you do. 

Keep trying to re-write history.

[Chico Hamilton III]

The more we have Lerner the more ai appreciate Doug. Much respect.

Too right. At least Ellis managed to get us relegated properly.

Say what you like about him but he has always had Villa's interests at heart. A true football man. Can we say the same about Lerner?

Well said.

So did he always have Villa's interests at heart when he was on the board at Derby or Blues or Wolves?

[lovejoy]

Out of interest when was he on the Boards of other clubs? Pre 1983 or since?

Also when we were relegated in 1986, what were our finances like? Did we have debts which led to stars being sold from the previous regime?

[Pat McMahon]

As I said, we were never perennial relegation strugglers under Ellis.
These last 5 seasons have been an absolute disgrace.

I don't disagree with the last line, just don't see why it has to come with the beatification of Ellis.

 

And so what? Those  glory days included an achievement that only 6 other British clubs can claimed to have enjoyed.

Pedant alert - surely only 5 other British clubs (winky thing)?

[McGraths Dry Cleaning]

As I was 13 in 83 I thought the Villa always won stuff. I soon learnt.

Same for me - remember watching the European Cup final on telly and my Dad saying make the most of it - you might never see it again. Might not ever see us score a goal again the way things are going at the moment.

[Clampy]

As I said, we were never perennial relegation strugglers under Ellis.
These last 5 seasons have been an absolute disgrace.

I don't disagree with the last line, just don't see why it has to come with the beatification of Ellis.

 

And so what? Those  glory days included an achievement that only 6 other British clubs can claimed to have enjoyed.

Pedant alert - surely only 5 other British clubs (winky thing)?

Well spotted that man.

[dave.woodhall]

Out of interest when was he on the Boards of other clubs? Pre 1983 or since?

Also when we were relegated in 1986, what were our finances like? Did we have debts which led to stars being sold from the previous regime?

He was at Small Heath from about 1965 until walking out of there one day to taking our chair the next. In 1982 he bought Wolves and put them into receivership two weeks later.

When he returned to Villa in 1982 he claimed (and I have no reason to doubt him) that we were heavily in debt. About a million pounds would be a reasonable estimate. This was at a time when the record transfer was (I think) the 1.7 million for Bryan Robson. Was this debt worth destroying the European Champions? Draw your own conclusion.