Advertisement
Departing: Lambert. PA Wire/Press Association Images
Axed

Relegation-threatened Aston Villa have parted company with Paul Lambert

The former Norwich boss has seen his team slump to 18th in the Premier League table this week.

Updated at 20.44

ASTON VILLA HAVE announced the sacking of manager Paul Lambert tonight after a run of 10 winless games took them into the Premier League relegation zone.

The Scot, who spent two-and-a-half years in the job, has come under increasing pressure in recent months as a result of the Premier League side’s dismal form.

And last night’s 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Hull has proved to be the final straw as the club released a statement confirming his departure.

“Aston Villa Football Club has parted company this evening with manager Paul Lambert,” it reads.

“First-team coach Scott Marshall and goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall will continue to prepare the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Leicester City at Villa Park.

The club would also like to place on record its thanks to Paul and take this opportunity to wish him every success in the future.

The club will announce a new manager in due course. There will be no further comment from the club at this stage.”

Lambert, 45, took over at Villa Park in 2012 and led the Midlands club to 15th-place finishes in his first two seasons, but the former Scotland midfielder had come under pressure from fans following a poor run of recent form.

Villa recently went 11 hours without scoring a Premier League goal and supporters unveiled a banner calling for Lambert to leave during their loss on Tuesday.

The defeat at the KC Stadium saw Villa slip into the Premier League’s bottom three for the first time this season, raising the prospect of a first relegation since the 1986-87 campaign.

Villa, European champions in 1982, made a strong start to the season, winning three and drawing one of their first four league fixtures, but have won just two of their subsequent 21 matches.

They were knocked out of the League Cup by third-tier Leyton Orient, but have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Lambert, who won the Champions League as a player with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, joined Villa after three seasons with Norwich City.

He is the fifth managerial departure of the current Premier League season, after Neil Warnock (Crystal Palace), Alan Irvine (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Pardew (Newcastle United) and Harry Redknapp (Queens Park Rangers).

Additional reporting by AFP

Cesar Azpilicueta has an impossible task tonight if this team-sheet is to be believed

‘It has been strange at Old Trafford this year with no Champions League’ – Irwin

Your Voice
Readers Comments
30
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.