Sources: Aston Villa decide to sack Steven Gerrard
Aston Villa have decided to sack Steven Gerrard, sources have told Football Insider.
The board held talks following the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea and have decided to part ways with the 42-year-old.
The search for a successor is already underway, and the dismissal of Gerrard could be formalised by the end of the week.
He could remain in the dugout for Thursday’s trip to Fulham and Sunday’s home clash against Brentford, but well-placed sources have said that his job is hanging by a thread.
Sources told Football Insider on 30 September that Aston Villa have sounded out Mauricio Pochettino and Unai Emery over potentially taking their manager’s job.
Pochettino is out of work having been dismissed by Paris Saint-Germain in July.
Emery is currently manager of Villarreal and is under contract with the La Liga side until next June.
Villarreal are currently 9th in the La Liga table.
Gerrard‘s job has been under pressure following a run of results which yielded just one win in eight Premier League fixtures.
There was an expectation that he would be given the trip to Fulham and visit of Brentford to save his job.
However, the board have made their decision ahead of the pivotal games.
The Midlands club are currently 16th in the table and one point above the relegation zone.
Gerrard had three years remaining on his contract at Villa Park.
The ex-Rangers boss will be the fourth Premier League manager to be sacked this season.
Thomas Tuchel, Scott Parker and Bruno Lage have already been relieved of their duties.
Gerrard has a points-per-game ratio average of 1.21 at Aston Villa.
He won 13 of his 39 games in charge of the club.
In other news, a pundit fears Douglas Luiz could exit Aston Villa ‘on the cheap’ after journalist’s ‘agent’ claim.