Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis lamented the club's depressed share price - describing it as disappointing and 'very low in comparison to net asset value' - and high player wages and transfer costs as he unveiled sluggish full-year figures to the end of May. The Birmingham-based football club reported pre-tax losses of £400,000, against a profit of £100,000 last year. This was after taking into account a 24% rise in payroll costs. Profits before player amortisation and trading, but after interest, were similar at £4.5m. Encouragingly, sales rose 14% to £46.7m, swelled by record broadcasting receipts of £21.2m (£16.2m). And average league attendances were up from 31,597 to 35,012. On the pitch, Ellis was disappointed with 8th place in the Premier League and failure to reach the Champions League. The total year's dividend was lower at 7.7p, down from 8.8p. The club's share price has fallen from a 52-week high of 193p.