Aston Villa Sacks Manager, Alex McLeish After One Season

ASTON Villa has sacked Alex McLeish less than 24 hours after the end of his first season in charge, the club has announced on its website.

The Scot was an unpopular appointment among many Villa fans after he took neighbouring Birmingham down last season and though he avoided a second successive relegation this term, it was not enough to save his job.

A winless run stretching to nine matches saw Villa finish just two points clear of the drop and McLeish's fate was confirmed yesterday following talks with senior club officials. Villa's chairman, Randy Lerner, said: "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 instill 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."

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