Big Sam For Villa?

Last updated : 05 October 2018 By Footy Mad - Editor

Steve Bruce was sacked by Sky Bet Championship club Aston Villa following their 3-3 draw with Preston, and former Toon boss Sam Allardyce could be in the running for the job.

Villa are currently 12th in the Sky Bet Championship after winning just three of their first 11 league games this season.

Bruce had come under increasing pressure after Villa's poor start to the season and had a cabbage hurled at him during that draw with Preston.

The 57-year-old, who has won promotion to the Premier League twice with two different clubs - Birmingham and Hull - replaced Roberto Di Matteo at Villa Park in October 2016.

"Aston Villa can confirm that manager Steve Bruce and his assistants Colin Calderwood, Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence and Gary Walsh are leaving their posts with immediate effect after having their contracts terminated. The process to appoint a new manager is under way," the club said.

A further statement issued on behalf of the board added: "We would like to place on record our gratitude to Steve and his team for their hard work and commitment. We wish them well for the future.

"The process of recruiting a new manager has begun. In the meantime, Kevin MacDonald, Aston Villa Under-23s manager, will be in charge of the team for our trip to Millwall on Saturday."

Sam Allardyce is a name well known amongst English football fans, Allardyce implements an effective style of football which may be what is required at Villa if they are to secure promotion this season.

The 63-year-old guided Everton to a top-half finish last season despite flirting with relegation during the early part of the campaign, before the Toffees elected to hand Marco Silva the job in the summer.

Allardyce has success at this level on his CV after guiding Bolton to the top flight in 2001 and more recently West Ham in 2012 – both through the play-offs. He would go onto manage Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Premier League alongside a short stint as England boss.

He is someone who has been heavily praised by former players for his preparation for matches and his use of sport science to try and get the best out of players – but Jose Mourinho did label his football ‘from the 19th century’ when his Chelsea side faced the Hammers in January 2014.