Eric Black backs Remi Garde to rebuild his career

Garde left the Premier League strugglers on Tuesday after less than five months as manager, having won just three of his 23 games in charge.

The former Lyon boss replaced Tim Sherwood in November but was unable to raise Villa off the bottom of the table.

He became frustrated after being unable to bring in a single player during the transfer window and had to contend with a volatile dressing room, with several senior players understood to have opening questioned his methods.

Black, who was hired by Garde as first-team coach in January and is now in caretaker charge following his exit, remains confident the Frenchman will be able to get his career back on track.

"I think internal and the external view is Remi was doing the job under difficult circumstances, I don't think it was hidden from anybody," said Black.

"Being in there, I can appreciate the difficulties but these things happen in football. It is modern day football. You have to deal with what is given and the club have made a decision.

"It is always difficult, I have been there before so it is not an easy task. He is away from the club now.

"He needs to dust himself down and I'm sure he will go on to be a successful manager.

"When you are faced with such negativity it can be a strength as well.

"It is something he possibly didn't think he would experience but it is another string to his bow, something he has experienced and I know the qualities he has and I am sure he will be a successful."

Black will lead Villa, who are bottom of the table and 12 points adrift of safety, into tomorrow's game with Chelsea.

He went on: "All I will say is I'm delighted Remi gave me the opportunity to come in. He remains a friend, I think I have found a friend.

"He is someone I respect enormously both as an individual and as a coach. That won't change."