Former Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor says owner Randy Lerner needs to get realistic over his asking price.
Lerner's right hand man is chief executive Tom Fox whose background is in business after five years as Arsenal's chief commercial officer.
Doug Ellis, who is 91, sold the club to Lerner and Taylor said: "I worked for Doug Ellis and whatever one says about him, he cannot be described as a non-football person. You cannot run a football club by phone from the other side of the Atlantic and that is what Lerner is trying to do.
"I don't know who is on Aston Villa's board, how it's run, no one does.
"All I can ask is that things are sorted out quickly. You've brought somebody in, but it might be too late Mr Lerner."
