Steve Bruce has been linked with an exit from Aston Villa so who could replace him as manager? Here are three possible options.
The future of Steve Bruce as Aston Villa manager is uncertain, reports the Telegraph, following his failure to get promoted to the Premier League.
Villa lost to Fulham in the Championship playoff final and as yet the club have not told the 57-year-old whether they want him to continue as boss or not.
There are rumours owner Tony Xia could even sell the club and while Bruce wants to remain in charge, he will not do so unless he has the full support of the board and if budget constraints – due to fears of breaching Financial Fair Play rules – are too tight.
So who could replace the Englishman if he were to leave Villa Park?
Sam Allardyce
Allardyce’s reputation is at a fairly low ebb after being sacked by Everton last month and the 63-year-old may even have to drop into the second tier of English football if he wants another managerial job.
The former England chief’s history in the division is good, though, having got both Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United promoted from there in the past.
Alex Neil
Another who has taken a club into the Premier League is Neil, doing it with Norwich City in 2015, and the Scot came close again in 2017/18 as against the odds he got current side Preston North End to seventh.
Yet he is still only 36-years-old and clearly has a lot to offer and is arguably now well prepared for the stress and expectation of managing the Villans.
Dean Smith
Someone else who continues to impress in Championship against expectations is Smith, who for the third season running took Brentford to a top half finish with them ending up ninth this time around.
The 47-year-old, who is from West Bromwich, has been linked with high profile jobs in the recent past but is yet to make the step up many think he deserves.
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