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          Aston Villa sack Roberto Di Matteo after dismal start

          • ESPN staffOct 3, 2016, 08:09 AM

          Aston Villa have sacked Roberto Di Matteo with the club 19th in the Championship.

          Former Chelsea and Schalke boss Di Matteo has lost his job after Villa won just one of their 11 league games during his reign, and his assistant, Steve Clarke, will now take charge on a caretaker basis.

          A club statement read: "Aston Villa Football Club has today parted company with manager Roberto Di Matteo.

          "The Club decided to act following a run of disappointing results which has the left the team occupying 19th position in the Championship.

          "The Club would like to place on record its appreciation to Roberto for all his efforts in helping rebuild the squad and wish him well for the future.

          "Steve Clarke will take over as caretaker manager during the search for a new manager.

          "There will be no further comment from the Club."

          Di Matteo, who had overseen West Bromwich Albion's promotion to the Premier League in 2009-10, had revamped the squad following relegation and brought in players including Ross McCormack, Jonathan Kodjia, James Chester, Mile Jedinak and Tommy Elphick for significant sums.

          However, Villa -- who also sold players including Idrissa Gueye, Scott Sinclair and Ciaran Clark -- secured only one win during Di Matteo's tenure when they beat Rotherham 3-0 on Aug. 13, while they also suffered an embarrassing EFL Cup loss to League Two side Luton Town.

          Di Matteo's final match in charge was Saturday's 2-0 loss at Preston North End, which left the club just two points above the relegation zone.

          Tony Xia, who took over the club in June, had said in August that he was demanding an instant return to the top flight and said he wanted Villa to be "the top club in Europe with the highest number of fans all over the world" within five years.

          Following Monday's decision, he wrote on Twitter: "A difficult decision 4 the board. But rather sooner than later we'd make the decision. All need learn & not repeat mistakes again & again."

          Tim Sherwood, who led Villa to the FA Cup final in 2015, is among the names reportedly in contention for the position and suggested he would be keen on the role following previous owner Randy Lerner's exit.

          He told talkSPORT. ""I'm disappointed for Roberto but he knows, as we all do, that it's a results business and if you don't get results you're going to be under pressure to lose your job.

          "I've looked at a few of their performances and I think they've got good players certainly capable of playing in this division."

          He added: "It's a year since I left the club and in that time they've had three managers. So something has to change. Would I consider it? Listen, I don't know these new owners. I was there under a different regime.

          "But when you go into a club when someone wants to really pick it up and take it forward, then it's a great opportunity for any young manager. I certainly would be no different to anyone else."

          Former Hull City boss Steve Bruce is also keen on the role, along with former Borussia Dortmund II coach David Wagner, whose Huddersfield Town side currently top the Championship.

          Clarke will also be given a chance to stake his claim for the permanent job, Press Association Sport reported. Villa do not play again until Oct. 15 when Midlands rivals Wolves visit Villa Park leaving Clarke almost two weeks to make his mark along with first-team coach Kevin Bond.

          Ex-West Brom boss Clarke is popular with the players and has impressed the Villa hierarchy since he joined as Di Matteo's assistant in June, although he has not managed since leaving Reading in 2015.

          Brentford boss Dean Smith has been identified by Villa as a contender, according to PA.