It has been confirmed that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 McLeish has been sacked as the manager of Aston Villa after talks with the club owner Randy Lerner.
In less than two years Aston Villa have now gone through three managers, starting from Martin O’Neill’s resignation and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Houllier’s departure due to medical reasons. McLeish was not expected to last more than a season, having previously managed local
rivals Birmingham City.
The club were amongst the bottom most and barely avoided relegation at the end of the season. This, too close a call, has been too much for the owner, who apparently wants to see changes implanted at the club. Lerner released a statement regarding his reason
for the somewhat sudden but expected sacking.
Lerner said in the statement:
“We need to be clear and candid with ourselves and with supporters about what we have lacked in recent years; Compelling play and results that instil a sense of confidence that Villa is on the right track have been plainly absent.
The most immediate action that we can take is to look carefully at our options in terms of bringing in a new manager who sees the club's potential and embraces our collective expectations.”
According to Lerner, the club was in dire need of changes, which could only be brought about by a change in the management. The need for change was one of the main reasons given for McLeish’s removal as the Aston Villa manager, less than 24 hours after the
defeat to Norwich City.
Aston Villa lost their last fixture of the English Premier League season 2-0 to Norwich, which was the last straw for Lerner even though his club successfully avoided relegation. Amongst other candidates http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-c29347 Lambert, the current Norwich City boss is being
considered for the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684.
The Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner thanked Alex McLeish for his time and effort with the club over the past season and said in an official statement:
“We are mindful of the club's need to prepare thoroughly for the new campaign, and for the new manager to be able to begin working with the board...”
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