Former Aston Villa owner Sir Doug Ellis has insisted that the club's relegation from the Premier League is now "inevitable".
The Midlands side are currently on their worst league run in their 141-year history, with no wins in 19 games and a return of just eight points from their first 20 fixtures to lie 11 points from safety at the bottom of the table.
Ellis, who served as chairman for 31 years before he sold the club to Randy Lerner in 2006, admitted that he had already accepted defeat in the fight to avoid dropping down to the Championship.
"Relegation is inevitable now and any tears are now rather than at a specific time," the 92-year-old told The Mirror. "I put blood, sweat and toil into the club but when the time comes I won't be surprised we are relegated, therefore I am suffering now rather than then. Nevertheless it will be a very sad day when we are no longer in the Premier League.
"It never entered my head then when I sold the club but I don't regret selling to Randy. I am a great believer in a gentleman's handshake. To me I sold to a good man in Randy Lerner. He said he will put money in, I think it was £200m, he did do and has done.
"He has shaken hands and kept his word but it is just a pity the people he has appointed as managers and the amount of money he has given them hasn't worked out I am afraid."
Lerner put the Birmingham side up for sale in 2014 but has pledged transfer funds to troubled manager Remi Garde in the winter window.
Neil Wilkes
