SHAY GIVEN HAS been promoted to Aston Villa’s coaching staff after they suspended assistant manager Ian Culverhouse and Head of Football Operations Gary Karsa today.
The former Irish international goalkeeper and Gordon Cowans will temporarily assist manager Paul Lambert as he bids to halt Villa’s slide down the Premier League table.
The Midlands club have lost their last four games in the league, dropping to 14th, and are now just four points clear of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s game against Southampton.
Chief executive Paul Faulkner was due to meet Lambert and his staff this morning and in a statement, the club said that Culverhouse and Karsa have been suspended pending an internal investigation.
“The Club can confirm that Gordon Cowans and Shay Given have been temporarily promoted to assist manager Paul Lambert and his first team coaching staff,” Villa said.
Given, who turns 38 later this week, hasn’t played since returning from a three-month loan at Middlesbrough at the end of February.
He said: “As players, it’s important that each and every one of us take responsibility right now and I’m delighted to play my part in helping the manager and the team go and try to win on Saturday.”
