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Stan Collymore has blasted Aston Villa's board as ‘not fit for purpose’ and suggested they should ‘all go now’ after his six-year long programme column was pulled this week.

The former Villa striker and talkSPORT presenter was today notified that he would no longer be required to produce a page of his views for the matchday programme due to what he describes as ‘fierce criticism of the ownership and club structure.’

Collymore has expressed his views on the current struggles at Villa Park both on air and in his national newspaper column.

And in an extended message on his personal Twitter account, Collymore branded the club a ‘laughing stock’, admitted he felt sorry for Tim Sherwood because of the 'mess he's having to deal with’ and explained how he was told his programme piece was coming to an end. He also criticised owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Tom Fox .

“After 6 years of doing an official Aston Villa programme column, today I’ve been notified by the club that they no longer wish me to continue due to my support of Tim Sherwood and fierce criticism of the ownership and club structure,” the message reads.

“The club felt in essence that it would be inappropriate for me to write positively in a column whilst being critical on air or in a newspaper.

“...I am firstly a broadcaster, and a broadcaster who treats every club in the country the same. So if ownership is letting fans down, as proven last night on perhaps the only football show in the country which actually addresses issues rather than ignore them or pretend they don’t exist, we debate them and criticise or praise where necessary.

“On the watch of Mr Lerner, and latterly Tom Fox as Chief Executive, and Paul Faulkner before him, the club I have supported since childhood have become the laughing stock of the Premier League. This, England's 4th most successful football club.

“So do I pretend on air everything is great? Or do I broadcast justifiable criticism alongside one of the best in the business, Mark Saggers, echoing the concerns of a huge fanbase, as they come to terms with a 6th year of complete and utter dross on the pitch, and ineptitude of the highest order off it?”

Collymore continues: “I met Tom Fox in the summer and said to his face that I wanted to do anything, anything to help my club moving forward. Get on a plane, train, in a car, watch players, report back, anything to help my club.

“A smile, a coffee and a patronising “we’ll call you” came and went. At the same time Aston Villa were employing a marketing man, that’s a marketing man as Director of Football. “And we wonder why we are in the mess we are in. Industry professionals ignored when offering help, a man who can put a glossy Arsenal pitch together made Director of Football at my club.

“The line is drawn now for me. It took an embarrassed Rob Bishop, programme editor and friend for over 18 years to tell me over the phone that my column had ended “for now”, but in reality for good.

“I will now join fan groups and individuals actively looking to other potential owners to come in swiftly and hasten change at Aston Villa Football Club. Mr Lerner, Tom Fox, the current Director of Football and technical staff are not fit for purpose. They all should go, now.”

Collymore showed his support to the manager by adding: “As for Tim Sherwood, he gets my unequivocal support and should get the same from every Villa fan.

“He really could have had no idea what mess he was coming into or some of the major decisions that he would have no hand in. An incredibly tough job.

“I’ll walk into Villa Park soon with chest puffed out as a fan or broadcaster. It’s my club and I was here before this current ownership, firstly in the Doug Ellis stand aged 6, then on the pitch aged 27, then in the broadcast booth aged 35. I’m going nowhere.

“Our great club will be back, but only with new ownership. So please Mr Lerner, instead of petty sackings of columnists who tell the truth about our club, please sell up and go.”