i heard its because of the james milner transfer to man city. MON didnt want to sell him, and on top of that he didn't want S.Ireland.
When Doug Ellis appointed MON in 2006, the plan was to restore AVFC to the heights reached under Ron Saunders. This project was long term of course, but well underway. It was derailed first by GB's selfish move to Man City, followed by the board (Lerner) not opposing Man City's approach for James Milner. As if this was not enough, MON was also told he would have to sell to buy. MON faced this dilemma - sell to buy, but the team does not progress much (if any) further - and face the sack for 'failure', or do what he did and resign, knowing that the project had been abandoned anyway. However, no one is wrong in this matter. Lerner has to keep the Club solvent and knows AVFC cannot compete financially with the mega bucks spending of Chelsea and now Man City. If it is any consolation, nor can most Clubs in the EPL.