Villa had been in decline for several years; the club had an ageing five-man board "who had failed to adapt to the new football reality".

[1] The club had neither developed a scouting network nor an effective coaching structure.

The fans' calls for the board to resign became more and more pronounced when Villa finished 16th.

[5] In the Second City derby Villa lost both matches.

This article about an English association football club season is a stub.