Doug's 'Deadly' dealings

Ellis (left): Not a chairman who stays in the background

In the light of John Gregory's resignation as manager of Aston Villa, BBC Sport Online's Chris Russell reflects on the reputation of chairman Doug Ellis.

They call him "Deadly", and Doug Ellis has delighted in the notoriety, even using the name for an immodest autobiography.

Yet legend has it that former England striker Jimmy Greaves dreamt up the name purely because the Villa chairman was such an effective fisherman.

Ellis, who has a reputation as a ruthlessly successful, though cautious, businessman, now stands accused of presiding over stagnation and decline, while refusing to back the ambition of players, fans and manager.

  Ellis: The managers

Tommy Docherty: Sacked, bottom of Div 2

Vic Crowe: Sacked, 14th in Div 2

(Ron Saunders: Appointed by Ellis, resigned under other chairman)

Tony Barton: Sacked, 10th in Div 1

Graham Turner: Sacked, 1st in Div 1

Billy McNeil: Sacked, 22nd in Div 1

Graham Taylor: Left for England, 2nd in Div 1

Josef Venglos: Sacked, 17th in Div 1

Ron Atkinson: Sacked, 19th in Prem

Brian Little: Resigned, 15th in Prem

John Gregory: Resigned, 7th in Prem

Villa's share issue has been a disaster for fans who signed up, and not much better for Ellis, despite dividends.

And just this week the club warned it wanted to cut the wage bill and sell players, which can hardly have encouraged Gregory.

A fortnight ago, the ex-manager said he would never walk away and it is hard to believe he now simply wishes to spend more time with his new grandchild.

Many suspect Ellis is involved.

The chairman has not actually dismissed anyone since November 1994, yet Gregory and Brian Little have walked out, tired of the club.

The dignified Little has never told the full story, but it is hard to believe that Gregory will stay silent.

Ellis does not react fondly to criticism, and he and Gregory's relationship cooled after the manager's infamous "time warp" accusation just over a year ago.

Ironically, in 1968 Ellis was lead character in a takeover that accounted for a board that defiantly lived in another time.

Ellis played a major role in modernisation but he also spent much of Villa's 1970s revival waging boardroom war, and for a time he was the loser.

He left the chairman's office in 1975, just as the club rose back to the top flight, and then departed the board not long before the club's greatest success.

When he returned in 1982, Villa were European Champions.

Yet five years later they were in the Second Division, with new manager Graham Taylor calling the club a "shambles".

  Ellis: The record

Chairman from Dec 1968

League Cup finalists in 1970, winners in 1975, promotions from Div 3 (1971) and Div 2 (1975)

On board from 1975, League Cup winners, 1977

Away from board as Villa won Championship (1981) and European Cup (1982)

Returned to wait 12 years for first of two League Cups

By now Ellis had gained his "Deadly" reputation by replacing European Cup winner Tony Barton with two more men he went on to dismiss in the following three years.

Taylor saved the club - and Ellis - before leaving for the England job.

Villa headed back into Europe, but Czech manager Josef Venglos did nothing for those seeking more foreign influence over English football, or for Ellis' reputation.

Ron Atkinson followed and won the League Cup, but as Gregory has discovered, Villa Park is not big enough for two larger-than-life characters and Ellis wielded his axe.

Just nine years ago Villa were the only team who looked capable of stopping Manchester United winning the first Premiership title.

But there have been a series of predictable Premiership finishes under Gregory, all between sixth and eighth.

The manager has spent millions, but Ellis has also raised a good deal with sales of frustrated stars such as Dwight Yorke and Gareth Southgate.

Villa appropriately lie seventh as Gregory departs, a year after the chairman said he hoped the ex-boss would be his last appointment.

Many Villa fans - some more than happy to see the manager go - now want Ellis to stick to his word and let someone else hold the next job interviews.