image: bbc.co.uk

Doug Ellis has been notoriously thrifty for as long as I can remember. Aston Villa fans have always complained about their chairman, and even managers (while they lasted) have let slip the occasional complaint. But now the players have had enough.

It's not just the lack of transfer activity that's got players riled, it's the little things. In a joint statement (which can be read here) the players complained that Ellis:

• Refused to pay for a masseur


• Refused to reimburse another masseur for a cup of coffee


• Refused to pay £300 to water the pitch


• Halted a proposed training ground development


• Has failed to invest in the team

The lack of transfer activity I could almost understand. It was always clear that Ellis lacked the ambition to take Villa to the next level, but at the same time he ensured they weren't the next Leeds United.

With these latest cutbacks, particularly his refusal to reimburse a masseur for a cup of coffee, it seems Ellis has crossed the boundary between frugal and Scrooge. The coffee incident also suggests he's micro-managing Villa's finances to a ridiculous degree.

It's great to see the players joining their fans in publicly voicing displeasure with Ellis, but my guess is the old man will just ignore the criticism and bide his time until someone buys the club from him.

The sooner the better for Aston Villa fans and players.