Steve Hollis: Villa stars 'face big pay cuts' if they're relegated

New chairman Steve Hollis joined chief executive Tom Fox to face up to about 170 fans from the Aston Villa Supporters Trust AGM at Villa Park to face questions about the club's dismal season.

One fan present at the meeting said although the hierarchy were heckled at some points during the near two-hour question and answer session, Hollis and Fox were given a fair hearing.

"They made clear that the club had been standing still in terms of the money coming in for the last ten years," said the fan, who asked not to be named.

"They were clear that their aim was to drive the club forward. Tom Fox said the last 10 years had been a golden era in terms of money coming into the Premier League but that Villa's revenue had only risen by about 14 per cent over that time. He said that was one of the worst in the league."

The fan added: "They said the players' contracts had relegation clauses written into them and that if we go down that will obviously save the club money."

The fan added: "Hollis is obviously a businessman.

"He was criticised for referring to fans as 'customers' but he apologised for that and said he would call us supporters from now on."

Earlier in the evening, chairman Hollis gave an interview in which he admitted he 'had made no secret that I'm not a football man'.

Hollis said: "He (Lerner) is a very persuasive man," adding "I said I'm very flatttered to be approached and to be considered as someone who can take on this great job but I'm not a football guy.

"He (Lerner) said we've had football guys but I wanted someone who is a businessman."

Fox told fans that the club was being 'active' in trying to bring in players.

But it was difficult because they are in 'the most difficult position' in the Premier League.