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Aston Villa have rejected a bid for the 38% shareholding of Doug Ellis but fans have made it clear they would like the 80-year old chairman they call 'Deadly Doug' to leave. Villa Fans Combined fear that manager David O'Leary could leave through frustration at the lack of funds he has to invest in the depleted squad, estimated at just £2m this summer.
The bid came from Roy Ranson, the former Manchester City player turned financier and his business partner, the former QPR chairman, Richard Thompson. They have been in talks with Doug Ellis for some time. Ranson was responsible for developing player transfer schemes known as sale and leaseback arrangements. Villa said that the bid of £30m 'seriously undervalued' the club. They could well be right given that Villa's property and land bank is valued by the club at £40m. Analysts believe that it could be worth substantially more than that when developed, hence the key role of the second largest shareholder, property entrepreneur Jack Petchy.
The representative of the potential bidders claimed that Mr Ellis was 'willing to go'. That may well be the case and this bid can be expected to bring in other potential bidders, although nothing more has been heard of the rich Venezuelan who was said to be interested last year. After the bid annnouncement, Villa shares leapt to a four year high of 250p, valuing the business at £28.7m
The man they call 'Deadly' reacts to David O Leary's transfer wish list.
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