TERRY IN FRAME AS VILLA AXE BRUCE

Aston Villa sacked steve Bruce after supporter unrest culminated in the manager having a cabbage thrown in his direction by a disgruntled fan.

new Villa owners nassef sawiris and Wes Edens sanctioned Bruce’s dismissal amid a toxic atmosphere among fans and chief executive Christian Purslow delivered the news at the club’s Bodymoor training ground yesterday.

Sportsmail understands John terry is a contender to take over, although it is unclear whether the former England captain would be comfortable succeeding the manager who took him to Villa. the 37-year- old is studying for his coaching badges and was yesterday at Chelsea’s Cobham base watching a youth-team game.

Brentford manager Dean smith has admirers at Villa Park for the style of his team and he supported Villa as a boy. agent Jorge Mendes is close to sawiris and is set to propose options. Paulo Fonseca, the shakhtar Donetsk manager, and Carlos Carvalhal, the ex- swansea boss, are Mendes clients and in the running.

Purslow, who was appointed in august, told Bruce he was dismissed along with assistants Colin Calderwood, steve agnew, stephen Clemence, and Gary Walsh, at a cost of £2million.

Bruce led Villa to the Championship play-off final last season while operating on a reduced budget and having lost both parents in the space of three months. But he seemed resigned to his fate after drawing 3-3 with Preston on tuesday. one fan threw a cabbage at Bruce before the game and West Midlands Police are investigating.

Under 23s manager Kevin MacDonald will take the reins for saturday’s trip to Millwall.