Aston Villa’s new owners make managerial change
Aston Villa’s new owners have run out of patience with the team’s indifferent start to the season and sacked manager Steve Bruce after two years in charge.
The club are 13th in the Championship and August ambitions had already been replaced by autumnal discontent.
Bruce’s last match in charge was marred by a spectator throwing a cabbage at the manager. Only bottom club Preston, who Villa drew 3-3 with on Tuesday night, have conceded more goals.
Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris and Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens took a 55% stake in the Championship club in July after a cash crisis which made administration a possibility.
Before the start of the season, and in the wake of their takeover, the new owners declared that Bruce had “their full support”.
10 weeks later, and with three wins from 11 league matches – and one win in the last nine – that support was withdrawn.
In a statement, the club said: “We would like to place on record our gratitude to Steve and his team for their hard work and commitment. We wish them well for the future.”
Bruce’s assistants Colin Calderwood, Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence and Gary Walsh have also been sacked, with under-23 manager Kevin MacDonald put in temporary charge.
