Aston Villa have announced that manager Tim Sherwood has left the club after eight months in charge.
The 46-year-old was defiant over his position after a sixth straight defeat at the hands of Swansea City yesterday, but the Villa board have now wielded the axe with the club 19th in the Premier League table.
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The former Tottenham Hotspur head coach saved Villa from relegation and took them to the FA Cup final upon his arrival last season, but has been made to pay for an alarming start to this campaign.
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A statement on Aston Villa’s official website read: “Aston Villa Football Club has parted company with manager Tim Sherwood today. The Board has monitored the performances closely all season and believes the results on the pitch were simply not good enough and that a change is imperative.
“However, the Club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Tim for all his efforts during a difficult period last season and for the many positive contributions he has made to the entire football setup during his time with the Club. We wish him well in the future.
“Assistant manager Ray Wilkins, first-team coach Mark Robson and performance analyst Seamus Brady have also left with immediate effect and do so with our best wishes. A search for a new manager has commenced and the squad will be managed in the interim by Kevin MacDonald.”
According to the Daily Express, former Manchester United boss David Moyes is the favourite to replace Sherwood after 18 months away from English football with Spanish side Real Sociedad.
The Express adds that Nigel Pearson, Bob Bradley, Sean Dyche, Alan Curbishley and Roy Keane are also in the frame to take over and attempt to guide the confidence-shattered Villans away from trouble.
Premier League experience may be the key criteria for the Villa board as Sherwood struggled to mould together a side full of young, foreign imports after losing star men Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph.
A Sunderland victory in today’s Wear-Tyne derby with Newcastle United would leave Villa, who have been ever-presents since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, rock bottom of the table.
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