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With all the attention on Randy Lerner out and Tony Xia in, let's take a moment to reflect on the bloke who helped make it happen.

After two years of Aston Villa being publicly up for sale (and another couple of years before that of Randy wanting out), Steve Hollis was able to broker a deal to finally put Lerner and the Villa Park faithful out of their misery.

It remains to be seen what impact Xia will have at the club and 'cautious optimism' is probably the best way for the claret and blue brigade to proceed for now.

But what is beyond dispute is that Aston Villa Football Club desperately needed change - and Hollis, despite the circus going on around him, was able to achieve that.

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What the new owner must do at Villa

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Hollis is an uncompromising character.

He warned Lerner that he would not be the American's lapdog and he wasn't.

Life at Villa has not been without its challenges for the former KPMG chief, with the need to streamline the workforce at the club - depriving many hardworking staff of their livelihoods - falling on his watch.

The loss of Premier League status and revenue has led to a brutal redundancy programme - or head count reduction as Villa termed it.

It has been an unpleasant process and the hope remains that Xia can yet save some of the jobs of those under threat.

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However, to Hollis' credit, throughout this time of uncertainty he has tried to maintain clear lines of communication with staff and fans and that is a lesson in transparency that the new regime will hopefully take note of.

Also he has proved with his recruitment of Brian Little that the football side of the club should be left to those with experience and expertise of the game.

Hollis will depart new-look Villa soon, which is a shame because the club could still do with a strong leader like him.

But when he leaves he will do so safe in the knowledge that his work here is done.

Villa fans do not underestimate the state of chaos Hollis inherited when he walked through the doors at B6 in January.

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It continued apace when the football board life raft he assembled with Mervyn King and David Bernstein capsized before it had chance to start its rescue mission just days after relegation was confirmed.

That Hollis was able to cope with that setback and still do the job he was recruited for - getting the club sold - is a testament to his professionalism.

As was him quickly identifying that Tom Fox and Hendrik Almstadt were part of the problem, not the solution, and doing something about it.

Villa was a mess, it still is, but at least Hollis has played a pivotal part in the clean up operation.

If you can keep your head while all around you are losing theirs, you'll be a chairman my son - even if it has only been on a short term basis.

LIVE: Follow the latest updates and reaction to the takeover here

WATCH - Gregg Evans on what Villa's new owners must do: