Dear...

I am writing firstly to thank you for your continuing, invaluable support of this great Football Club. Especially in these challenging financial times, I understand that investing in a season ticket is a big commitment and I wanted you to know that myself, the playing squad and all of the other staff at Aston Villa really do appreciate your contribution to working for success.

It is now just over six months since I received and was delighted to accept the offer from Randy Lerner to become manager of Villa.

Of course I was well aware that my appointment would be controversial and I recognise that in many ways it was a courageous decision by the Chairman to give me this opportunity.

Although I knew that some of the Villa fans would find it difficult to accept me given my previous managerial position, I did not have a moment's hesitation in accepting the chance to manage a club with such an illustrious history and with such tremendous potential as Aston Villa.

I can't pretend that the first half of the season has not been without its setbacks and disappointments, all of which have been felt as intensely by myself and the players as I know they have been by Villa’s fans.

Having had a relatively short pre-season to get to know and work with the players, I was reasonably satisfied with the start we made.

As you know, the team went unbeaten in the first seven games in the Barclays Premier League and I felt we were unfortunate not to secure more than two wins during that period. Since then our form has fluctuated frustratingly with some very good performances away at Bolton, Stoke and, of course, Chelsea but more disappointing displays at home to Manchester United, Liverpool and, in particular, Swansea.

So the mid-term report for myself and the team should perhaps read, “Satisfactory progress, can do better.”

Certainly, I think that would be a fair and balanced assessment.

For a Premier League club we have a relatively inexperienced first team squad overall but what we lack in experience, I believe, is at least partially compensated for by the quality of our senior players and the potential of the younger players.

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