Doug Ellis: Villa a certainty for relegation
Former owner Sir Doug Ellis claims everyone at Villa must accept blame for the club's current plight – claiming relegation to the Championship is now a "certainty".
Ellis, who sold the claret and blues to Randy Lerner in 2006, also expressed disappointment at the American's reluctance to attend matches at Villa Park.
"I'm rather sad the man I sold to hasn't given more of his time to come and see Aston Villa play," said Ellis.
"I'd love it (if he came to a game). He is available on the phone but not personally, in the director's box, which I believe he should."
Despite Lerner investing an estimated £250million into the club over the past decade, Villa have been in steady decline for more than five years and currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, eight points from safety with just 12 games to play. Ellis believes no-one at the club is immune from criticism.
"The only blame I can place is with the club as a whole, from the board of directors, to the manager, to the coaches, to the players," he said. "In the end it's the players who are really responsible. They have not been good enough. It's now a certainty they (Villa) will be in the Championship next year.
