BREAKING NEWS: Aston Villa sack gaffer Remi Garde

Garde grabbed the Villa Park reigns in early November 2015, with the club already in turmoil after former coaching incumbent Tim Sherwood guided the side to four points from a possible 30, just months after rescuing the team from relegation himself.

Basement battlers Villa now also have a goal difference of -36 and are 12 points from safety with just seven games to go, meaning they would require an unprecedented great escape to avoid dropping down into Championship football.

Sherwood was given the push after a home defeat to Swansea City in October and, in a strange parallel, the reverse fixture has also proven the tipping point for Garde, following a poor defensive performance at the Liberty Stadium.

Who can be the Villans’ hero?

With Villa seemingly destined for Championship football, it appears odd to give Garde the axe so late into the season, with an extensive reshuffle taking place after ex-chief executive Tom Fox and sporting director Hendrik Almstadt also recently exited Villa Park.

Though, current assistant Eric Black will reportedly be interim boss until further notice.

While, former Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson has emerged as one of the main candidates to take over the dugout in summer, after he last steered the Villans’ Midlands rivals to top-tier safety last season. David Moyes is also a rumoured target.

As it stands, now Villa (rank outsiders at 50/1 to stay up) are on the verge of being relegated for the first time since 1987, when they fell through the top-tier trap door just five terms after being crowned European champions.

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