Aston Villa are once again looking for a new manager after parting company with Roberto Di Matteo.
Former Derby County manager Nigel Pearson
A report in the Birmingham Mail has claimed that Aston Villa are not currently considering summer target Nigel Pearson following confirmation of his departure from Derby County.
Villa are looking for a new manager after they parted company with Roberto Di Matteo in the wake of their 2-0 defeat to Preston North End before the international break, and some may have felt that Pearson’s availability may have seen him make a move into the frame given his previous links.
Former Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo
The Birmingham Mail reports that Villa were seriously considering moving for the former Leicester City boss in the summer as they put plans in place for a season in the Championship. And while the Mail adds that former Villa chairman Steve Hollis wanted Pearson, club owner Tony Xia opted for Di Matteo.
Perhaps unsurprisingly therefore, given that Hollis left the Villans in June, the Mail reports that Pearson is not currently in the running to be the Italian’s successor, reportedly leaving Steve Bruce and Steve Clarke to battle it out over the job.
Steve Bruce is reportedly a leading contender for the job
While the 53-year-old’s time at the iPro Stadium was incredibly disappointing – the Rams sit 20th in the table and are the lowest scorers in the division – he would arguably have been a good option for Villa to consider.
He guided Leicester to promotion from League One and, after a lengthy stint with Hull, managed to pick up where he left off with the Foxes by taking them to the top flight in 2014.
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