``Appalled'' Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis has hit back at rumours that he went behind his manager's back and made a £3million bid for two Peterborough United players.

Reports suggested that Ellis approached the Division Three club and enquired about talented youngsters Matthew Etherington and Simon Davies without the knowledge of Villa boss John Gregory. But a statement from Ellis explained: ``I am absolutely appalled at this article which seeks to suggest I had a clear-the-air meeting with John following a bid I had supposedly made.

``The article is without any foundation whatsoever. Indeed, I was so incensed by comments attributed to Barry Fry (Peterborough manager) that I spoke to him personally this morning. ``In his own inimitable way he was spitting expletives that his name should be used to substantiate a totally fabricated approach. ``He confirmed to me that he had never spoken to the journalist concerned and he reaffirms he has not had any contact with me whatsoever regarding any of his players.''

Ellis was said to have made the offer after watching Etherington - linked earlier in the season with Manchester United - and Davies in action in Peterborough's recent league clash at Lincoln. But the chairman added: ``My recent visit to Sincil Bank was the result of my chairmanship of the Technical Control Board and followed an invitation by the Lincoln chairman, John Reames, to see their school of excellence. ``Moreover my meeting yesterday with John Gregory was a perfectly normal run-of-the-mill meeting which we have on a regular basis every week.''

There has been speculation about Gregory's future as manager of Villa after a run of just two points from six games has sent them slipping into the bottom half of the Premiership. Rumours have suggested that defeat at Coventry in Villa's next outing on Monday week will end his 20-month reign. But Ellis said: ``Together with my colleagues I am being as supportive as I possibly can to John and it is extremely disappointing that a member of our local press should choose this moment in time to write a scurrilous article which only serves to undermine the club.''