Former Aston Villa defender Paul McGrath has warned that the struggling Villans could suffer double relegation in the next two seasons if owner Randy Lerner is still with the club.
The American entrepreneur put the Midlands side up for sale in May 2014 and is expected to resign as chairman "imminently", although he has overseen the worst start to a season in Premier League history with a return of just six points from the first 16 games.
"Americans don't know what Villa means to Villa fans," McGrath told The Mirror. "You need people who love the club. I have always loved Aston Villa and it is because the way the fans have treated me.
"If there are not people who love the club then it is going to go downhill anyway.
"We are going to be second division next year, probably third division after and we are not going to come back."
Villa next face a resurgent Newcastle United in a trip to the North-East for Saturday's late kickoff.
Neil Wilkes
