Next Aston Villa manager: Fans give thumbs up to Roberto Di Matteo

Villa supporters have given Roberto Di Matteo their backing as the club prepare to unveil the Italian as their next manager.

Di Matteo's appointment is expected to be confirmed early next week and, in a poll of more than 500 fans on the Express & Star website, 60 per cent believe he is the right man to revive claret and blue fortunes following relegation from the Premier League.

The 45-year-old took Albion back to the top flight at the first time of asking, while prospective new owner Tony Xia believes Di Matteo's 2012 Champions League win with Chelsea will help boost the club's profile in the Far East.

Xia's £75million buy-out is still waiting ratification by the Football League and Premier League, meaning Di Matteo's appointment will officially be rubber-stamped by outgoing chairman Steve Hollis.

Nigel Pearson, Hollis' preferred choice prior to the takeover, was yesterday confirmed as Derby County's new manager.

Sources close to Xia are meanwhile hopeful his takeover of Villa will be given the green light by the end of next week.

The Beijing businessman and his associates have pr