We`ve been lied to, let down and insulted.

In General Krulak`s first postings on the various messageboards on the Internet, he told all that “I am on this Site because, like Randy, I truly care about what fans say and feel. We want to do right…we are not interested in screwing it up.”

If you do truly care about what the supporters of Aston Villa say and feel, then why are we looking to appoint a manager which clearly we do not want.
You simply are not listening. The statement released by the football club last night proved this. The majority of fans can cope with a manager, player or tea lady coming from Birmingham City. We are adults. What we do not want, however, is an awful manager in charge of Aston Villa.

On 9th June Paul Falkner had a statement put on the Aston Villa website regarding the search for a new manager. It didn`t really say much or give supporters any idea what was going on – but the penultimate sentence read:

“We are focused right now on trying to secure the best candidate who will complement the Club`s commitment to being true to our heritage, competitiveness and fan base.

Alex McCleish is a man who has had Jermain Pennant, Marlon King and Lee Bowyer in his squads. He has no record of bringing through youth players. Is this the kind of manager who will be true to Aston Villa`s heritage? He is a man who, in three and a half years of Premiership experience, has been relegated twice. He put together the most boring team in the Premiership last year, playing awful football and scoring the least amount of goals in the Premier League. Is this a commitment true to our competiveness? The Villa fans do not want him at our football club. Is this being true to our fan base?

The answer to all three of those questions is “No”, by the way.

You are driving a wedge between yourselves and the fanbase. When fans begin to stay away, which they will, then you will only have yourselves to blame. Turning away fans in their thousands is not a great idea, especially when it seems that we can`t attract a sponsor for the club at the moment.

We are not idiots. We are told that Randy Lerner`s jet made a trip to Corsica and 24 hours later, McLeish, said to be on holiday there resigns. We can guess you may have under estimated the feeling, and can almost understand it, seeing as you are currently having to use outside help to make up for the lack of football knowledge on the board.
McLeish won`t be given a fair go – surely you can see that from the reaction this has caused. Already you`ve seen banners and (sadly) graffiti at Bodymoor Heath. It is simply a waste of time and money appointing him because he`ll have a shorter reign than Houllier`s. It will not work.

Quite frankly, you have to question the sanity of a manager who would want to take the job despite the intense negative reaction seen towards the appointment of him. He really is on a highway to nowhere.
There is still time to make this right. Not much, but there is time. Time to show that in fact you are willing to listen to the fans.

Please be true to your words and listen to the fans. Be honest with us. Let us go back to how it was.

CustardCream.