Interview With Steve Stride

In the past both yourself and HDE have come in for a lot of stick, have there been times where you have been tempted to walk away and did you feel the criticism was fair?

Fans seem to have vented some of their frustrations over the Ellis era on you. Guilty by association is probably the phrase that best sums it up. It is apparent that the new owners are bringing in the ideas that fans have been crying out for. However you never once stood up to be counted and have the balls to say the club was going backwards. Is your long term position untenable? You are a fan, but you were more concerned about your relationship with Ellis than the views of the fans ..... are you ashamed of your lack of bottle? Do you look back at your input to the shareholders meetings and realise how much you offended the shareholders? Ellis 'awarded' you many shares over his tenure to keep you onside, this is a ploy that worked as you turned your back on the fans. Do you feel no sense of shame in collecting the money from them? Or have you surprised us all by donating the ill gotten gains to a good cause? How many others that are included in those that had 'jobs for the boys' should now be moved out of Villa Park? As fans view success in silverware, do you think the last 24 years have been a success? UTV

LOL at voiceoftheholte, be interesting to see if Fear puts those questions to him :) Steve you have obviously been at Villa for a long time, during that period which players have you enjoyed watching the most?

Steve, what are the biggest differences between the way the Americans conduct business to the way us Brits do. What are the biggest lessons you have learnt in your short time working for Randy?

Steve, there is a common opinion amongst the fans that Bruce Langham was doing a good job, and had some very positive ideas. Is this true and was his dismisal extremely unfair? Or was he really just bad at his job?

Crosswesleyandchapel, that is what I tried to say, but I used to many words. I think you have knocked the nail on the head. Geordie ..... I believe Stride desreves both barrels. He was more interested in saving his job and cuddling up to Ellis instead of standing up to be counted. By asking to give him some slack because he is answering questions, is akin to giving Goebells an easy ride because he is answering questions on his role alongside Hitler.

Well, that's it then! When's the hanging???????Ve have vays of making you talk!!!!

Do you feel with your experience of UK soccer and Aston Villa, you can still offer the new management something worthwhile to the Villa cause?

TheQ. LOL fella. Geordie ... it is not a personal attack. The questions I mentioned are questions that I want answered, or are we only allowed to ask 'nice' questions. That smacks of the Ellis regime. As an 'ex-shareholder', who has witnessed his contribution first hand, I think his efforts were poor. He was good when things looked on the up (the same as all the hangers on) but IMHO his arse went when the fans required someone to speak out against the former dictator. But in an attempt to please you here goes. Steve mate, what has been your favourite kit? What is your opinion on the food served in the Corner Flag Restaurant? Do you prefer cats or dogs. Does having no balls make you speak in a high voice. You look like Gareth from 'The Office', have you built your management style on him?

I disagree again Geordie. Whilst Stride is their, some of the Ellis regime remains. I make no excuses for hoping that he is used for some of the knowledge and contacts he has built over the last 32 years, and then shown the door. Having him removed IMHO would help make the cup half full.

Just have to agree to disagree on this one voiceoftheholte, although I do see your point and I understand where you are coming from. I just think, considering all the experience on the board, if he was that attached to the previous regime, Randy would have shown him the door

I am not a fan Steve. On the contrary I believe you should have walked by now, if only out of respect to the supporters of AVFC. I suppose I can understand Mr Lerners decision to keep you at Villa Park to assist in the transition from the old regime to the new, but now that the ball is rolling and new top quality professional people are being installed in key positions, I wonder how you yourself see your future role at Villa Park, or will you indeed decide that your time is up, and its now time to go? I personally have a very hard time in believing other than that you solely looked out for number one during the Ellis years, putting your self interest and loyalty to Ellis above any real concern for the future of AVFC. How do you respond to my accusation? I dont wish to be disrespectful, nor do I intend to make any unwarranted personal attacks, but I simply cannot understand how you failed to see, like all other supporters clearly did, the damage and decline being suffered by our great club. Yet you chose for whatever reason to remain quiet, abusing your position by failing to challenge or speak out against the policies and stipulations laid down by Ellis. Why Steve? Do you really believe Steve that you have a role to play in the future of AVFC, that you indeed deserve to have a role to play in the future of AVFC? If so, please explain why.

Some interesting questions, I'll put anything that isn't personal to him as Steve is more than capable of talking for himself and can obviously choose what he doesn't want to answer. I don't think we have said you should ask just 'nice' questions but for us to get people willing to giv etheir time to talk to the readers of this site, it surely follows that a bit of respect has to be shown in the way the questions are asked?


It isn't as if I've not been vocal on the issues and did say at several shareholders meetings that I didn't believe there was one man apart from Doug on the board who thought that Doug should remain. However, IF we follow the line that Ellis interfered in everything and held staff back, is it not reasonable to extend that to all? Is Steve not the same as any other member of staff at Villa? He wasn't a major shareholder, without looking at the annual report I'm sure he had very few, he wasn't an owner, he was just an employee and to be fair, he had a great job so it is easy for us all to say he should have walked but I'm not sure on that pay and with a position that he obviously loves, would we have done the same?

I am also led to believe that there was more than meets the eye when it came to the takeover and I'm not sure if I'm breaking confidences etc, but I think he very much stood up to Doug and pushed as much as us for the takeover. Just not everything is in the public domain. I think anyone who worked with Doug will be tarnished with the same brush but after over two decades at Villa, surely it made sense to keep Steve Stride on for the contacts and knowledge he has? Again, he was an employee.

It will be very interesting to see how he responds, if indeed he decides to respond, to some of the questions and accusations directed at him. I just believe and feel that he has a lot to answer for, but I'm more than willing to listen to and evaluate any responses he might care to make. He may of course believe that he offers us no explanations for his actions or lack of, and that is something we will have to live with, if not actually accept. His responses might not satisfy me or fellow posters, but hearing his version of events wherever possible, may enable supporters to possibly view him in a slightly better light. Maybe not. We shall see.

ask him do u like our manager

Can we still call you Smithers now that Mr Burns has gone?

Forget about Steve's association with Ellis, we can't all choose who we work for. Steve has my greatest respect. I can remember how he helped and supported Alan Instone at B'ham City, whilst Alan was recovering from a serious illness. He has been a loyal servant at VP for many years and long may it continue. Two questions I would like to ask is - what does Steve believe made Ron Saunders such a successful manager and does he know why Ron Saunders and Ellis did not "get-on"?

Thanks for the questions chaps, that will be more than enough as we've got some good ones in the forum as well.