Alex Crook has told TalkSPORT (Friday, 10.55AM) that England manager Gareth Southgate has been “mentioned” to him as a candidate to take over at Aston Villa – but that the Midlands side would have to wait until after the World Cup.
Villa announced the sacking of Steven Gerrard on Thursday evening after a sixth Premier League loss in 11 games. A 3-0 hammering by newly-promoted Fulham at Craven Cottage was enough for Villa’s board to spring into action.
Now, attention switches to who could replace Gerrard. It is believed that Villa will not make a decision until after the weekend. Villa take on Brentford on Sunday at Villa Park, with first-team coach Aaron Danks taking charge of the game.
The likes of Thomas Frank, Mauricio Pochettino, Sean Dyche and Michael Beale have all been linked with a move. Crook though threw a left-field option out, suggesting that Villa could move for £115k-a-week England boss Southgate.
“Gareth Southgate was mentioned to me this morning. Obviously, he is a Villa player but that would have to wait until after the World Cup,” Crook said, when speaking to TalkSPORT on Friday morning following Gerrard’s sacking.
Crook: Southgate mentioned as candidate to take over at Villa
Southgate would be a wonderful appointment – apart from one reason. An ex-Villa player, a manager with plenty of pedigree after his work with England and boasts Premier League experience. But the issue is, the World Cup.
The World Cup will end on December 18 and Villa are back in action on Boxing Day. The chances of Villa even entering talks with Southgate would be when the tournament ends. They would have to wait. By then, it might be even worse.
Had Villa kept Gerrard on until then, and if form was still bad, then looked at Southgate – it would make sense. But right now, Villa would have to appoint an interim until the end of the World Cup and that never works out well.
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