Villa owner Tony Xia raps Ian Holloway
Owner Tony Xia quipped back at former manager Ian Holloway's prediction that Aston Villa will find life tough in the Championship this season.
Villa are coming down from the Premier League, but ex-boss and now pundit Holloway isn't banking on them making an instant return with promotion.
The former midfielder has been in charge at Bristol Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, Plymouth, Leicester City, Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Millwall.
Revealing his tips for the 2016-17 campaign on Sky Sports, he only backed Villa to finish in a lowly position of 16th under Xia and boss Roberto Di Matteo.
The 53-year-old went on to say: "They are lucky I've put them this high. Last season, Villa's players felt the weight of the shirt, but not the importance of it.
"They didn't respect the badge enough. I'm worried nothing will change. They could easily get relegated again, with the lack of investment and unity within the playing squad."
Xia took to Twitter for his retort, criticising his opinion and adding he doesn't respect Holloway's opinion, urging fans to take no notice of his views.
He tweeted: "A failed player, failed manager and now f***ed pundit. Don't bother reading at all!"
