Chairman Doug Ellis insists he must be satisfied any would-be buyers of Aston Villa are “the right people to take the club forward” before he relinquishes control.

Doug Ellis may have to face up to the unpalatable prospect of reducing his Aston Villa workload after being admitted to hospital to undergo heart bypass surgery.

Aston Villa have rung the changes at boardroom level but Doug Ellis is remaining as chief executive despite constant calls from supporters during the past season for him to quit.