Villa will be a prized Championship scalp
Aston Villa must be prepared to oversee a huge period of change as the club adapts to life out of the Premier League, according to caretaker boss Eric Black.
Black thinks the new manager will also have to cope with being eyed as a huge scalp for other teams looking to put one over the division's 'big fish' next term.
And he reckons the club must go through a 'fluid' period of transfer ins and outs, to ensure Villa are well placed to try to ensure an immediate return to the top flight.
He said: "It's going to be a fluid changing squad for two months. Some will want to fight and be part of it and some won't.
"Some players we'll want to keep, some we won't – so it will be changing as we go along I think."
The Scotsman oversaw Villa's defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday, a loss which condemned them to their first relegation since 1987.
He continued: "The infrastructure of the club is set – we've got fantastic facilities. The supporters are second to none.
"I don't know many teams that would have over 30,000 coming to games when they've hardly seen a victory. Enormous credit for that.
"The stadium is in place, it's magnificent. We now have to rebuild a team that the supporters, first and foremost, can be proud of.
"The Championship is going to be very difficult. I don't think anyone is under any illusion about that. The fixture list goes up, there's more games.
"The physicality of the division is different to the Premier League too. We're a big, big fish in that division also."
And he added: "I'm sure whoever takes over here will ensure that work ethic from day one. I don't have any doubt about that.
"If that's the case and the club get the right squad together then there's no reason why we can't bounce straight back. But it certainly won't be an easy task."
