LAMBERT SACKED
Villa fi nally lose patience
ASTON VILLA last night gave in to fans’ pressure by sacking manager Paul Lambert.
The 2- 0 defeat at Hull on Tuesday, when Villa crashed into the bottom three for the fi rst time this season, was the fi nal straw for owner Randy Lerner.
Supporters have been chanting for the Scot to go since the turn of the year, but their protests became more vociferous at the KC Stadium.
And with their Premier League status under severe threat, Lerner has now opted to act just two weeks after chief executive Tom Fox suggested replacing the manager would be like
“fl ipping a coin”. “Aston Villa have parted company this evening with manager Paul Lambert,” the club confi rmed in a statement.
“First- team coach Scott Marshall and goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall will continue to prepare the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Leicester at Villa Park.
“The club would also like to place on record their thanks to Paul and take this opportunity to wish him every success in the future. The club will announce a new manager in due course. There will be no further comment from the club at this stage.”
Lambert found out the news in a transatlantic phone call from Lerner, despite having only signed a four- year extension to his contract in September.
Former Norwich boss Lambert replaced Alex McLeish in the summer of 2012 but has endured a less than successful time.
Hindered by a lack of resources, Villa have flirted with the bottom three in each of his three seasons in charge.
Lambert’s decision to leave out established pros such as record signing Darren Bent, right- back Alan Hutton, midfi elder Charles N’Zogbia and goalkeeper Shay Given also backfired.
This season he has failed to get his side fi ring in attack, with a pitiful 12 goals in 25 Premier League games, the worst by far in English football.
He also endured a disappointing transfer window, despite the arrivals of Carles Gil and Scott Sinclair, as he missed out on signing Rickie Lambert from Liverpool on the fi nal day. Despite a good start to the current campaign, Villa have slumped, with just two league wins since September.
The campaign to sack Lambert intensifi ed yesterday with a local newspaper running an editorial calling for the Scot to go.
Lerner finally satisfied the wishes of impatient Villa supporters and, with a bumper £ 5billion TV deal in the offi ng, the American is taking no risks, despite recently withdrawing his threat to sell the club.
Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood leads the list of potential replacements for Lambert, although USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann may interest Lerner.
‘ We wish Paul every success’