Taylor says more change is needed

Graham Taylor has admitted he failed in his second spell at Villa – but laid some of the blame at chairman Doug Ellis’ door.

Taylor shocked the club’s board by resigning yesterday for “much wider issues than mere playing matters”.

The team endured a miserable season, finishing 16th after relegation loomed, with player unrest not making Villa Park the happiest of places.

Former England manager Taylor accepted he should have done better but claimed he was always working with one hand tied behind his back.

“Certain aspects of the club had to show an improvement and had to change if I were to remain as manager,” he said.

“I didn’t come back for us to finish 16th and that’s where I failed, I failed to deliver a team that satisfied the supporters.

“When I came back I took a lot of pressure off the board but that’s not why I came back, I came back to deliver a successful team and I failed to do that.”

Expanding on that issue, Taylor told Radio Five Live the whole fabric of the club needed to be examined.

Taylor did not name Ellis, but when asked if more changes were necessary, said: “I believe so.

“The structure has to be looked at on and off the field, people have to be able to look at themselves and say it’s time for a change.

“If you get anything right at the top there is a good chance it flows down.”

From Taylor’s own point of view, he said it made more sense for him to go now rather than see out the remaining 12 months of his contract.

“Simply I think it’s right, I think it’s better for the club,” he added.

“I was going into the last year of my contract and it’s difficult to get players to sign when you have only got one year, and we have got some very good young players and they need some stability of management.”

Former Leeds boss David O’Leary will immediately be installed as one of the favourites to succeed Taylor and become the club’s sixth manager in 13 years.

Taylor’s last act as Villa boss was to release veterans Ian Taylor and Alan Wright this week.

And his replacement will have a battle to persuade England midfielder Lee Hendrie to stay at the club.

Hendrie was upset by the barracking he received from fans during the last home game of the season against Sunderland, and was allowed by Taylor to go on holiday before the Leeds match to ponder his future.

Darius Vassell is still yet to sign a new deal but the club hope that Joey Gudjonsson will make his loan spell permanent and that Swedish striker Marcus Allback will also pledge his future to the club.