AVFC statement - McLeish sacked.

[MattW]

Hopeful the announcement of his departure contains traces of apology for the poor appointment, and an assertion of still flickering ambition. In his first press conference McLeish mentioned restricted budgets and making-do. His appointment typified a terrible strategy from the executive, which almost sent us down. Time to begin righting that is now. There's no point just appointing someone else to just get by.

[N'ZMAV]

I'v never been so excited. I've never hammered my phone so much, or refreshed my internet as quickly, I'm shaking...

[asgpaul]

Be fantastic if indeed the news we all want to hear is delivered today.  The board, against expectation, would have acted promptly and at least we could get on with the rebuilding required.

What odds on Barry Fry I wonder...??

[mikeb1982]

I'm so happy!

[Risso]

Hopeful the announcement of his departure contains traces of apology for the poor appointment, and an assertion of still flickering ambition. In his first press conference McLeish mentioned restricted budgets and making-do. His appointment typified a terrible strategy from the executive, which almost sent us down. Time to begin righting that is now. There's no point just appointing someone else to just get by.

Indeed Matt.  The board need to look at the last two years, and ask themselves where it all went wrong.

[andyh]

I will be renewing my season ticket as soon as this is all confirmed and official.

[N'ZMAV]

Some serious banging-heads-together needs to happen.

[PaulWinch again]

Christ I got diagnosed with a heart murmur last week and I've got an ECG for  it tomorrow. This can't be good for it!

[richard moore]

Is there a lollipop for which of us can be first to confirm it has definitely happened?

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Fuck you Boom Town Rats!

[N'ZMAV]

Christ I got diagnosed with a heart murmur last week and I've got an ECG for  it tomorrow. This can't be good for it!

hahahahaahahahahahah that's funny!!!

[mikeb1982]

From The Times website

Aston Villa have parted company with Alex McLeish after his disappointing first season in charge of the club ended with the club barely avoiding relegation from the Barclays Premier League, The Times understands.
 
The Scot won only seven league games as the Midlands club finished sixteenth in the Barclays Premier League after they rounded off the campaign with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Norwich City at Carrow Road which he himself branded “woeful”.
 
The club owner, Randy Lerner, was scheduled to fly in from the United States to hold talks with McLeish following the final game of the season. It seems that the 53-year-old has paid the price for a season of underachievement.
 
McLeish has had to operate under extremely difficult financial conditions as the club have slashed costs since he crossed the city of Birmingham to succeed Gérard Houllier in the Villa Park hotseat last summer. Villa have cashed in on the likes of Stuart Downing, who left for Liverpool for £20 million, while the likes of Brad Friedel, John Carew and Luke Young have all departed the club.
 
McLeish has also been bedevilled by injury problems throughout the campaign with the likes of Darren Bent, the record signing, Richard Dunne and Stiliyan Petrov on the sidelines but he was always struggling to win over the fans having managed arch-rivals Birmingham City. He was the unpopular choice after the club failed to lure Roberto Martínez from Wigan Athletic, who have finished a place and five points above Villa
 
While the former Scotland, Rangers and Hibernian manager led Birmingham to the Carling Cup last season, he also presided over the slump that cost them their top-flight status and Villa have finished with 38 points, one point fewer than Birmingham achieved last year.
 
Despite such a season, McLeish insisted after the final-day defeat at Norwich that he was still the right man for the job and was aiming to rebuild the side. “That was an unacceptable performance in Aston Villa colours and I have to change that, and there will be change,” he said.
 
“I cannot accept that because I have been used to winning trophies all of my career as a player and a manager. I might not have had the riches to spend of other managers, but believe I can turn Aston Villa around by adding quality and players who are going to work their socks off.”
 
He added: “I am not a quitter. I can totally understand the fans frustrations and I am the man who carries the can for the performances, but it is also frustrating for me to watch that kind of stuff.
 
“I am the guy who is responsible for results, and am the one who is going to get hammered. I accept that, and it happens to any manager.
 
“It is up to me to turn the opinion around and will do my best. I have to get a team in that Villa jersey with a winning mentality and I can change the fans opinion.”
 

[JJ-AV]

I'd prefer Martinez over Lambert but I'd not be fussed either way aslong as it meant he was off.

If he goes today then credit to Randy and Faulkner for getting it done ASAP.

[CJ]

Christ I got diagnosed with a heart murmur last week and I've got an ECG for  it tomorrow. This can't be good for it!

Similar here - I've been diagnosed with high blood pressure. I've just had to take some extra beta-blockers!

[PaulWinch again]

Christ I got diagnosed with a heart murmur last week and I've got an ECG for  it tomorrow. This can't be good for it!

hahahahaahahahahahah that's funny!!!

Yeah well it better be sorted before I have the test tomorrow!