Premiership: Townsend urges Ellis to quit Villa
Former Republic of Ireland captain Andy Townsend claims it is time for chairman Doug Ellis to stand down following John Gregory’s decision to quit the club.
The ex-Aston Villa skipper reckons Ellis is ‘‘very blinkered and set in his ways’’ and believes he should step aside after two decades to make way for someone with ‘‘real guts’’ to take Villa forward.
Gregory, now being linked with the vacant post at Derby, walked out on Villa following four years at the helm after his relationship with Ellis had broken down over a lack of funds for new players.
‘‘Doug has come in for a lot of stick and no-one can question his loyalty and his support for Aston Villa over the years. It’s been fantastic,’’ said Townsend.
‘‘But, as a chairman, if you want to be up there with the very best, then you’ve got to be dynamic and ambitious. You’ve got to be prepared to stump up the money.
‘‘Doug is very blinkered and set in his ways and you’re not going to change him very easily.
‘‘But I think it’s time for him to step down. He should stay at the club on an ambassadorial basis and get someone in there with some real guts about him that can take the club forward.’’
