'We Never Wanted Wally!' Says Villa Boss

Last updated : 14 October 2016 By Footy Mad - Editor

Aston Villa owner Tony Xia has taken to Twitter to emphatically refute suggestions that he was considering hiring Steve McClaren as the club’s new manager.

Steve Bruce, who guided Villa’s Midlands rivals Birmingham City to the Premier League in 2002, was confirmed as the replacement for Roberto Di Matteo (below) after the Italian was sacked as his expensively assembled squad drifted rapidly out of promotion contention.

Villa had been linked with a huge number of candidates before Bruce emerged as the outright favourite, with Huddersfield’s David Wagner, deposed Derby gaffer Nigel Pearson and former boss Tim Sherwood reportedly in the frame.

However, Dr Xia, who is already preparing to make his second managerial appointment just months after completing his takeover of the club this summer, has revealed that former Derby and Newcastle boss McClaren had not even warranted a place in his 25-man shortlist, although he admits that many of his colleagues admired the work of the 55-year-old.

Dr. Tony Xia ✔ @Dr_TonyXia
No.Many colleagues at RECON like SM but he was not even in 25list. https://twitter.com/realavfc/status/786232654832205826 …