Five contenders to replace Paul Lambert as Aston Villa boss

The dust has barely settled on Paul Lambert’s departure, but Aston Villa’s wantaway owner Randy Lerner must face the recruitment process knowing QPR are already scouring the same market.

The Villans have slipped into the drop zone after losing three games on the trot and now require a coaching hero of the highest order to save their season.

Read on to find out who we think could take over the reins at Villa Park and help the West Midlands club out of the mire.

Tim Sherwood
Sherwood now seems to be out of contention for the QPR job and is odds-on at 1/2 to finally make his return with Villa. The former Spurs man would be tasked with saving the club from relegation and improving their overall play, and the 46-year-old is already well versed in taking over halfway through a season, having helped patch up Tottenham following Andre Villas-Boas’ exit.

Gareth Southgate
Sherwood is certainly favourite, but here at Coral we reckon England Under-21 boss Southgate, who was a League Cup winner with the Villans and plied his trade at Villa Park for six seasons, is a more intriguing shout at 20/1.

The former Three Lions international previously dipped his toes in to Premier League management with Middlesbrough, with mixed results.

However, five seasons after being relieved of his duties at the Riverside Stadium, Southgate could finally return to club management older and wiser.

An impressive stint as Young Lions boss has often seen Southgate tipped to take over the senior England squad, and his ability to work with raw materials could appeal to Villa, whose purse strings appear permanently tightened.

Jurgen Klinsmann
The former Spurs star, who currently resides in the United States, where he has coached the national team since 2011, has emerged as a surprise contender to be Villans coach.