Put Up Or Shut Up

Can't argue with this as I've said the same and been quoted in the same paper this week!

Doug Ellis is losing patience with the Comer bid being 'led' by Michael Neville. It is now in the region of 36 years since the group first approached (give or take 35.5years!) and still there has been no official offer.

The Mail has a quote from 'an insider' saying that Doug doesn't think they have the money. The insider also confirms that Doug does now want to sell and that is why he instructed Rothschilds to find a buyer.

As yet no one has been found, but that isn't to say they won't.........! (He says in hope and desperation).

The only quote from the club says: 'It is fair to say that Doug Ellis is now getting somewhat impatient over this.'

As you know, I am always first to agree with Doug (sic) and in the Birmingham Mail myself and Neil Heitzman of the trust also pour doubt on the bid and worry about the future of the club.

I said I thought it was time for the Comers to 'put up or shut up'. But then again, I always do sit on the fence, I really should learn to get a clear opinion one of these days! ;-)

I also slated the communication from Villa and the Comers as 'absolutely abysmal' adding: 'Everything that happens at Villa seems to end in a saga. We see statements in the press one month and then there's two months of silence. Michael Neville says they are close to a deal, but the Comers have never said anything. It makes you wonder whether they have not got the money or they are waiting to see if we are safe from relegation.'

Obviously the club is in limbo, in truth we have been for years and 'The club should now be going to the Comers and saying 'put up or shut up - put up the money or withdraw'. The foundations are there at Villa Park and we have the rudiments of a massive club, but it is difficult with no communication from anyone.'

Neil Heitzman, of the Aston Villa Supporters Trust, added: 'The longer this continues, the greater the detriment to the club. There is a malaise at Villa Park and it is affecting the club on and off the field. If this takeover does not happen, there is no way that Doug Ellis is going to release the funds that the club desperately needs. These protracted negotiations are no good for anybody. Everybody, from the top right down to the bottom, is being affected. There is a wall of silence and the soundbites from Michael Neville are just not helping.'

Fans have been saying that VFC should be organising more protests, but with the anger now - once again - split between chairman and manager (as I said last week, we have a joke of a chairman and a joke of a manager and the only people not laughing are the fans) protests would be futile. Also, with the club 'in the hands of' Rothschild, what else can we seriously ask Doug to do? The only time anything else would need to be done - and then you would have to doubt whether the fans would ever unite anyway - would be if Doug blocked a decent bid. Indications now are that he knows he needs to sell, so ?

As ever, never a dull moment with the Villa, well not OFF the pitch anyway.

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