Villa fans urge caution in manager search

Villa supporters have warned the club's hierarchy they 'simply cannot afford to choose the wrong man' in their search for a new boss.

Former Lyon boss Remi Garde is favourite to succeed Tim Sherwood in the Villa Park hotseat after the latter was sacked on Sunday, following a sixth straight Premier League defeat.

In a statement, the club's Supporters' Trust praised the board for making a 'decisive call' after weeks of speculation, but have urged on those at the helm to 'think wider' when considering the new man.

The Trust's statement read: "Premier League experience is not a prerequisite to be considered and we most certainly should not have a shortlist of one as we had in February (when Sherwood was appointed).

"After a litany of poor appointments, we simply cannot afford to choose the wrong man this time.

"To do so would see us relegated at a time that extraordinary riches are around the corner. We believe this appointment will define the next five years."

The Trust also called for owner Randy Lerner to give an 'urgent update' on his plans to relinquish the club's chairmanship.

Lerner has been looking to sell Villa since May 2014 and, in a rare interview earlier this year, promised to stand down as chairman if a buyer could not be found by the end of the summer.

Villa are understood to be prepared to bide their time before making a managerial appointment.

While Garde continues to look the most likely candidate, his fellow Frenchman Christophe Galtier has emerged as an alternative with his odds shortening dramatically yesterday.

The St Etienne boss is reportedly on the club's radar and a viable option should their move for Garde collapse, due to continued problems in acquiring the 49-year-old's desired backroom staff.

Odds-on favourite Garde wants Gerard Baticle and Bruno Genesio, who were both part of his backroom team at Lyon, to join him in the Midlands but the French club are refusing to let them speak to Villa.