Premiership: Ellis to remain at Aston Villa despite fan's wishes

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.

Ellis, currently in La Manga with England in his Football Association role, has been criticised by fans for his transfer policies and apparent reluctance to back manager John Gregory in buying new players.

But, while he remains at the helm, there are several alterations to the roles to be played by the personnel who are part of the Villa hierarchy.

Financial director Mark Ansell will now combine that role with being deputy chief executive to Ellis, while Steve Stride has relinquished the post of club company secretary after 22 years to become operations director of the plc board.

He will be replaced in his previous role by Marion Stringer, who since the flotation of the club in 1997 has acted as secretary to the board and played an important role in administrative and personnel issues.

Ellis’ son Peter is also returning the board after a three-year break in a non-executive director’s role - he previously spent 14 years as a director before retiring in 1998 - while the appointment of former England and Villa manager Graham Taylor as a non-executive board member has also been confirmed.