By Larry Pitt

For 50 years plus I have been a loyal, proud and dedicated supporter of The Lions. Claret and blue through and through, and totally true, no matter what. Like so many fellow followers I have experienced all the highs and lows of our once great club during this period.

I am fortunate enough to actually remember the times when Villa Park was a fortress, no one team enjoyed playing us at home, we were formidable – yes, honestly, every visiting club knew they were in for a game irrespective of our current form or league position. How times have changed.

The Villa’s current situation is without doubt, for me at least, lower than low, it’s through the floor and getting worse by the day, we are well and truly sunk. Having followed the lads into the third tier of football in the past, I can confidently predict that it will be a long hard road back to the status a club like ours should have.

The very heart and passion of the club has been systematically ripped out by a missing owner and so called chief executive and board. Are these people the ones we can confidentially expect to plan our course back, I think not. They are the very reason we find ourselves in our current plight in the first place – not one genuine football brain amongst them, clueless the lot of them. They have to go and go soon.

As supporters, we have the collective responsibility to make this happen. But how do we force an owner out who simply won’t go until he gets his overpriced valuation for the club, and as long as he can use his losses on his investment as a taxable deduction he isn’t going anywhere.

It’s all about the bottom line for Lerner, so he clearly has more time for cash than Villa. I am delighted to hear that finally some supporters are intending to show their teeth with a protest march prior to the next home fixture. I hope they keep their dignity, keep things peaceful, but more importantly carry the protest on inside Villa Park, don’t reserve their voices purely to Witton Lane, embarrassment is a strong weapon.

Let the board know, if they have the guts to show their faces, what it actually feels like to be humiliated week in, week out. Let the club know this is only the beginning with the prospect of far more to come. Stay strong and resolute.

“Are these people the ones we can confidently expect to plan our course back? I think not. They are the very reason we find ourselves in our current plight in the first place”

In 1968 Tommy Docherty famously proclaimed that 5000 supporters would turnout just to watch eleven Villa shirts drying on the washing line. Although a “tongue in cheek” remark, it was Mr Docherty’s acknowledgement of the value and strength of Villas supporter base – the 12th man. No matter what, that supporter base has never reduced in the 40 plus years since. Every single Villa follower should be congratulated for their long standing, undivided faith and patience. You have my total respect.

However, early in December, it occurred to me that Mr Docherty’s remark was pretty close to the mark today, but with a huge variant added. Today we see 30,000 plus turning out every other week – not to watch the washing dry – but to see our WHOLE CLUB HUNG OUT TO DRY, worse still, the rain keeps falling and the long term forecast is for far more stormy weather ahead with the supporters paying with hard cash to be mugged off by Mr Lerner and Fox.

Enough is enough.

No longer am I prepared to put 20 quid into the owners greasy little hands and seeing nothing in return. I don’t place the problem at the feet of the players, they cannot help it if they simply are not good enough. Firmly at the feet of those idiots who signed them.

“The very heart and passion of the club has been systematically ripped out by a missing owner and so called chief executive and board”

Not to be forgotten, we are no longer classified as supporters. Mr Fox considers us to be “customers”. Customers! The bloody cheek of it – customers – pure marketing banter.

Let me remind Mr Fox, a customer buys a product and expects value for money. Your product (along with yourself and board members) are not fit for purpose. What are my statutory rights Mr Fox? Can I have my money back or are you willing to issue a credit note. Go lose yourself, you’re pathetic.

Best wishes to every true Villan. May 2016 bring you the changes you so desperately want and deserve. UTV.

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