FORMER Aston Villa chairman Sir Doug Ellis has died aged 94.
He is said to have passed away in the night, according to BirminghamLive, leaving behind second wife Heidi and his three sons, Peter, Oliver and Simon.
Former Aston Villa chairman Sir Doug Ellis has died aged 94Dave Pinegar - The Sun
He was previously married to Audrey – Peter’s mother – after meeting her when in charge of the transport for the Royal Navy’s Fleet Arm in Ceylon, Sri Lanka.
Ellis – who was knighted in 2012 for charitable services – was Villa chairman between 1968-1975 and again from 1982-2006, and oversaw three League Cup wins.
During his second spell, the club were never relegated from the Premier League and spent all but one season in the top-flight, falling to the second division in 1987.
Sir Doug Ellis enjoyed two separate spells as Aston Villa chairmanPA:Press Association
Aston Villa won three League Cups during Sir Doug Ellis’ reignNews Group Newspapers Ltd
In 1993, Villa Park renamed the Witton Lane Stand the Doug Ellis Stand in his honour.
Jimmy Greaves nicknamed Ellis “Deadly Doug” due to the number of managers he sacked during his two tenures.
Just three bosses were axed during his first stint but an extraordinary 11 were given the chop in his second.
Ellis admitted his biggest regret was missing Villa’s amazing European Cup triumph in 1982 in Rotterdam.
He said: “We were coming back from Barbados, but there was a porters’ strike at Heathrow so we couldn’t get our connecting flight to Rotterdam.“We were diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland and I had to watch it on television.
“But lots of people have told me we won the European Cup with young players who had come through under me.”
Sir Doug Ellis leaves behind a wife a three childrenCorbis - Getty
Sir Doug Ellis sold the club to Randy Lerner in 2006 with Martin O’Neill at the helmReuters
Ellis and his family received death threats for the club’s inability to capitalise on the European success.
He said: “We had threats to kidnap the kids and there were many threats to ‘execute’ me, usually by telephone.
“The calls I received were particularly damaging to my wife, Heidi.
“We couldn’t come home at midnight from a social function and put the lights on because there would be a van down the road and the threatening calls would begin.
“They’d be waiting for me to come in.
“One night, a three-ton lorry was driven over our garden leaving deep ruts.
“And six inch nails were scraped down the side of the Rolls.”
Ellis sold the club to Randy Lerner in 2006 for £62.6million with Martin O’Neill at the helm.
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