Steve Stride Resigns From Villa

I agree with you Gaz. If he was good for the Villa, Randy would not let him go. Wheels keep turning the right way, all we need now is results.

Did he fall or was he pushed?

It is common place for a large plc, after takeover, becomming private to retain key members of the administrative team/directors to oversee a handover period. Ultimately the new owner will eventually want to install 'his own people'. Stride was probably already contracted for this handover period after the takeover, and he has no doubt been rewarded handsomely for it by Lerner - basicly Stride knew the club top to bottom and inside out, probably better than Ellis did, and Lerner could not afford to loose him in the early days of his reign. I would expect no animosity between Lerner and Stride, in fact Lerner is probably very grateful to him for staying on. We should salute Stride for what he has done for our club, he has been a real servant and worked under one of the most coveted tyranical leaders the game has ever seen. Steve I take my hat of to you and wish you all the best.

I can not join in the pleasantries. Whilst I wish him all the best for the future I think that we have been let down. SS has 'earned' several million quid from the Villa in shares, wages, a book and pensions during his time at the club. It is obvious from the efforts of the current regime just how much this club has been lacking over the last few years. Questions are now being answered. These same questions and problems were ignored by SS his staff. Even to the extent that on shareholders meetings he would rather argue against fans despite everybody being able to see what was happening. So he has made a nice life for himself and his family from the Villa, but lets not pretend he was a success. It seems like he is a genuinely nice guy but in terms of his work ability, his achievements are now being shown to being poor. Quite rightly he was kept on initially for his knowledge and contacts. The new owners now have these and he no longer has anything to 'bring to the table'. It just goes to show that it is not just on the pitch where the club is trying to improve the quality. It would be unfair to say 'good riddance' because working for HDE must have been a nightmare. I think he tried his best but was so out of his depth it is untrue.

I agree. It is not unusual for "executive level" staff to go at his sort of age (not intended to be an angeist comment just the facts)a nd they do say that a new broom always sweeps clean and we do not need remnants fro the days of DD. All the best Steve, enjoy your retirement with your family and enjoy watching MON's team bringing back the glory days you recall so fondly !!

Well said VOTH, I agree with every word..I must stop doing that! :-)

Not in the least bit sorry to see him hit the door.

No doubting Stride's loyalty to Villa. But he was loyal to the wrong person. He should have proved how much he cared for the club by distancing himself from the coffin dodger when he saw what a mess he was making of the whole thing. I won't be sorry to see SS go. He has spent too long looking after himself rather than looking after Aston Villa