Villa fans to make stand against Ellis

Aston Villa fans are planning a mass protest calling for chairman Doug Ellis to resign before Monday's televised Premiership …

Aston Villa fans are planning a mass protest calling for chairman Doug Ellis to resign before Monday's televised Premiership clash with Ipswich Town at Villa Park.

The Villa supporters group Ellis out.comwill distribute 25,000 placards among fans displaying the message "Ellis out" and are asking for them to be held up as the teams enter the pitch.

Fans are again becoming increasingly disgruntled with Ellis' apparent reluctance to make money available to manager John Gregory to strengthen his squad.

At the last home match with Leicester there were chants of "Ellis out" from the Holte End in a throwback to last season's protests.

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Gregory has spelt out his frustration at not being able to bolster his squad when Villa sat on top of the Premiership in November when he thought he had money available to buy Leicester midfielder Muzzy Izzet.

Then last week he admitted that he may have to consider selling record signing and fan's favourite Juan Pablo Angel to finance any transactions in the transfer market.

Gregory has spent only a net £16million sterling in his four years at the helm, splashing out £67m but recouping £51m.

Ellis out.comspokesman Ian Robathan said: "This is no longer about signing one player or even 21 players.

"Ellis and his colleagues on the board have had enough warnings from supporters in recent times - warnings that they have clearly chosen to ignore.

"They continue to treat the man on the terraces with disdain and they continue to trample all over the hopes and ambitions of the fans and the manager and players alike.

"We have all had enough. We will protest at this game and every single home game, in one form or another, until the executive board of Aston Villa is gone.

PA