ALEX McLeish has written to season-ticket holders to give them a forthright assessment of his Aston Villa reign so far – and his hopes for the future.

In the memo, sent out this week, McLeish discusses his controversial appointment, the state of his squad, results so far, his style of football and his ambitions.

Villa’s boss tells the club’s 20,000 season-ticket holders that “satisfactory progress – can do better” is the mid-term report of his tenure to date.

“Certainly, I think that would be a fair and balanced assessment,” he wrote. “For a Premier League club we have a relatively inexperienced first-team squad overall.

“But what we lack in experience is at least partially compensated for by the quality of our seniors and potential of the younger players.

“We will also add more quality when the opportunities are there. I am convinced we have every reason to be optimistic going into the second half of the season.”

McLeish discussed Villa’s results, including a Premier League record of five wins, five draws and seven defeats.

He wrote: “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... Our form has fluctuated frustratingly.”

On accusations he is a negative manager with a cautious playing style, McLeish commented: “My appetite for attacking, winning football is second to none.