David Bernstein: Villa won't rush for new boss

Bernstein, who along with Brian Little is leading the hunt for Remi Garde's replacement, revealed they are considering a "whole load of people" for the vacant post but refused to comment on speculation Nigel Pearson is one of the name's on their shortlist.

The former Leicester manager is, along with ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes, widely thought to be a front-runner for the vacant post.

Steve Bruce, Sean Dyche and former Wolves boss Mick McCarthy have also been linked as Villa, whose relegation from the Premier League could be confirmed as early as next Saturday, hunt a manager with experience of the Championship.

Caretaker boss Eric Black took charge of yesterday's 4-0 home defeat to Chelsea.

Speaking to BT Sport prior to the game, Bernstein said: "We are doing a very thorough exercise here. We are looking at a whole load of people.

"We are evaluating them properly and professionally and we are not going to rush.

"I want to emphasise to the fans we will not be rushed into this.

"I think we are very lucky to have Eric Black. I'm very grateful he has agreed to take over as interim manager and I think he will do very well for us but we are not going to be rushed, that is very important."

Bernstein was recruited last month by Villa's new chairman Steve Hollis as part of a re-organisation which has also seen former Bank of England governor Mervyn King join the board, with Little being named an advisor.

The former FA chairman also paid tribute to former boss Garde, who left the club by mutual consent last Tuesday after a torrid five months in which he won just three of his 23 games in charge.

Bernstein said: "Remi was a great guy but it was probably the wrong place and wrong time for him.

"Going forward we will probably be looking for an English manager who has experience of this league and of the Championship.

"At the moment we are still a Premier League club and you never know. If things we don't work out we need someone who has experience of life in the Championship."

Yesterday's defeat was Villa's seventh in succession and left them 15 points adrift of safety with just six games to play.

Furious supporters continued protests against owner Randy Lerner yet, when asked to comment on the club's current predicament, Bernstein insisted the American had been a 'terrific owner in his own way'.

He said: "I know things are very different now but he's put in huge sums to this club and I know Randy values this club enormously.

"I think what he's done now at last is get a group of us with positions on the board with a new chairman with Mervyn King, who's a supporter and myself.

"And I'm hoping now that with this new group of people and with responsibility properly delegated to us and with Randy giving us the confidence to do that job then we'll have a very different situation.

"Randy has been a terrific owner in his own way even though we are where we are."