Aston Villa Victims Of Toxic Mix-Eric Black

 

Aston Villa's acting boss Eric Black says years of upheaval have created a toxic mix at the club. Relegation was confirmed on Black's watch earlier this month, but the damage was done earlier in a season littered with disciplinary problems, boardroom changes, supporter unrest and poor results.

Neither Tim Sherwood nor successor Remi Garde could do anything to halt Villa's slide towards the Championship, and owner Randy Lerner last week issued a statement to say  Lerner's attempts to sell Villa have so far come to nothing, while five permanent managers have been employed since Martin O'Neill left on the eve of the 2010/11 season.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Watford, Black joked he should have turned down the offer to take charge following Garde's departure at the end of March. The Scot then addressed the problems Villa have faced, saying: “Obviously I knew the job was going to be difficult. I didn't know the timescale of it, whether it was one week, six weeks, seven weeks, I had no idea. There have obviously been other elements that have happened since then to make it, certainly for me...I can't remember other jobs like this in terms of the negativity surrounding the club for so long.  They are elements that have influenced the players, so it's not been straightforward but it's been interesting. Over the last four years, it has not been straightforward for Aston Villa”.