Mike Whitby, Fool

28 November 2008
By

Mike Whitby thinks Aston Villa should change their name to include the word Birmingham.

Wouldn’t a disregarding of 134 years of tradition, and obvious love of “branding” make him unsuited to be in charge of things?

Just a thought.

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  • http://brumdreams.blogspot.com/ Oscott Local

    The man should be locked up for this one. I just hope the good voters of Harborne see sense and eject him from office. (I know its not very likely but one can dream)

  • http://peteashton.com Pete Ashton

    My cliched response is it’s a shame it’s taken bloody football to bring this to the general consciousness but I’m not complaining.

    This is not the first time and it won’t be the last. The biggest stumbling block for the development of Birmingham is not just the woeful caliber of our civic leaders but their insistence that they always know best. A bit of humility and awareness of their abilities would go a long way.

  • http://eastsideblog.wordpress.com Simon Howes

    Well, I have never seen a “London FC”.

    Humm, where is out regional elected mayor to sort out Whitby? Damn, we haven’t got one.

  • http://www.friendsofthestars.co.uk Craig Hamilton

    Proof at last:

    Whitby really is dumber than he looks, which is pretty dumb indeed.

    The only other public figure I can think of who pulls off dumb/dumber with the same élan is Peaches Geldof.

    Thank the Lord that Doug Ellis is no longer in charge in “suburban-sounding Aston”…..he *just* might have gone along with this.

  • http://daveharte.com Dave Harte

    I remember many years ago meeting a girl on holiday who, when discovering one of our party was a Villa fan declared (affect heavy Yorkshire holiday): “Aston Villa? I thought that were in London”. So Whitby wants to see ‘Aston Villa’ more closely associated with Birmingham the place, hardly a crime. If you re-read the story you’ll notice the ‘Aston Villa Birmingham’ bit is in single quotes, not double. So he hasn’t even said it directly. It’s a silly season story at the wrong time of year.

    Do people still read the Evening Mail? I hadn’t realised.

  • http://www.jonbounds.co.uk Jon Bounds

    The article says he’s “urging a name change”, if he hasn’t been I would expect a rebuttal or even a letter from a lawyer to follow soon. Even mentioning the idea of a name change of a football team is a foolish thing to do, very very foolish.

    I read the Mail more now it’s put its stories online properly.

  • ianrobo

    So as a villa fan this is just so stupid and not the first time Mike whitby has made himself look a fool, why the people of Brum elected his party I will never know. He is not fit to lace the boots of the late great dick knowles (yes I am a labour supporter)

    Can anyone confirm he supports Blues I have heard that

  • Alex

    I have to say that Mike Whitby is not a fool. He has driven the city from zero stars under Labour to the three stars and ‘improving well’ that it is now. If that is the action of a fool then i aim to be one.

    On this ridiculous Villa story any idiot, and i mean idiot, that can comment on a press story must be able to read….therefore Mike Whitby NEVER said that he advocated the name change of Aston Vlla. What he did say was that no one on earth knows where it is! By affiliating AVFC to Bham will be an advance for AVFC and Bham as a City. There is no credible and reasonable arguement against this.

    I more than welcome a challenge on this.

  • http://focalplane.com Paul Ashton

    As a Bluenose I have to say that Aston Villa is truly a suburban team and its name should continue to reflect that. On the other hand, Martin O’Neill can be leader of the Council any time. That would accomplish two things: the Council would have a good leader and Villa would be much lower than fourth in the Premiership!

  • http://www.jonbounds.co.uk Jon Bounds

    @Paul Martin O’Neil as Mayor, I’m a bluneose too and I’d certainly vote for the man before Mr Whitby and certainly before the money obsessed Karen Brady.

    @Alex, how do you know that the NEVER said it? Have you been following him round? Like I say, as it’s such a stupid thing to even hint at, I would expect strong denials from him if he hasn’t.

  • http://peteashton.com Pete Ashton

    @Alex “I have to say that Mike Whitby is not a fool. He has driven the city from zero stars under Labour to the three stars and ‘improving well’ that it is now. If that is the action of a fool then i aim to be one.”

    One would hope that any politician with a good team around him/her would be able to run a city. Whitby may well be a genius at making the city run effectively but he’s a damn fool when it goes beyond that remit. Which is my point – our leaders should be able to recognise their limitations and learn to share the power with those who demonstrably can do the things they can’t.

    Then again, evidence for this lack of fool-ness is hard to find so you’ll forgive us if we go with what we see. Such as this gem: http://www.vimeo.com/2050773

  • Mark Finch

    @ianrobo the people of Brum did not really elect his party, they came 2nd but the 3rd placed Lib Dems wanted a slice of the action so did a deal to share power.

    I think he is an embarrassment and WTF is he doing touting the Big City Plan in China? What’s our city got to do with the Chinese? Get rid.

  • Barnard

    Aston was separate from Birmingham till 1911 and Aston Villa football club has
    been a around since about 1874 so why not rename Birmingham to ASTON

    Mike Whitby shows how to win friends and influence people !

    The fans posting on the Villatalk forum don’t seem impressed with the idea

    http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=46475

    This must be an example of a own goal !

    Barnard

  • http://makelardhistory.blogspot.com fatboyfat

    At least it’s done one thing. Villa fans and Birmingham City fans alike are currently united as one.

    They all think he’s a pillock.

  • Brum Chum

    Whitby out! The man is clearly not fit to lead this fine city of ours!

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