Former Aston Villa owner Doug Ellis has revealed he had takeover talks with George Gillett before the American sports mogul turned his attention to Liverpool.
Ellis, who eventually sold out to another American, Randy Lerner for #63million, claimed one of the reasons he decided not to sell to one of several other prospective buyers was because they "all" wanted to borrow money for the deal and would have taken a dividend to pay off the interest.
Ellis was speaking to BBC Radio Five Live about the possible American pursuit of Arsenal, and admitted: "I spoke to George Gillett and met him and his son Foster.
"I was very impressed with both, particularly Foster who is now moving here to run Liverpool."
He added: "Randy Lerner used his own money to buy Villa, but other predators wanted to borrow and take a dividend."
The 83-year-old Villa life president‘s comments come in the same week there have been fears that Gillett is considering selling the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team. This has been denied by Donald Beauchamp, the club vice-president (communications and community relations).
Gillett and fellow US sports tycoon Tom Hicks bought Liverpool for around #450million.
>> MORE VILLA NEWS
