Au revoir, Brucey.
Steve Bruce has been sacked by Aston Villa after a string of bad results that left the club in 12th place in the Championship.
Villa fans had become increasingly frustrated with dull football that Bruce’s team had been playing, without results to justify it.
BREAKING: Sky sources: Steve Bruce has been sacked by @AVFCOfficial #SSN pic.twitter.com/dbZYq1YnTF
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 3, 2018
Villa drew 3-3 to Preston North End on Tuesday night in a see-saw of a game that either team could have won. Midfielder Glenn Whelan had an injury-time penalty saved which would have secured all three points for Villa.
That miss appears to have sealed Bruce’s fate, as did a bizarre incident during the game when a fan threw a cabbage at the manager. You know what they say, once the fans start throwing vegetables, you’re finished.
Bruce took charge at Villa Park in October 2016 and led the Birmingham side to the play-off final last season. However, his team lost 1-0 to Fulham and have failed to find any form this season.
Villa currently sit in 12th position with 15 points from 11 games.
Club statement: Steve Brucehttps://t.co/w9Plnv1KAZ#AVFC pic.twitter.com/NHGhjnqaA5
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 3, 2018
The club’s statement on Bruce’s sacking read:
“Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that manager Steve Bruce and his assistants Colin Calderwood, Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence and Gary Walsh are leaving their posts with immediate effect after having their contracts terminated. The process to appoint a new manager is under way.
“We would like to place on record our gratitude to Steve and his team for their hard work and commitment. We wish them well for the future.
“The process of recruiting a new manager has begun. In the meantime, Kevin MacDonald, Aston Villa U23s manager, will be in charge of the team for our trip to Millwall on Saturday.”
On BBC radio later on Wednesday evening, journalist John Percy, who broke the news that Bruce was to be dismissed, reported that the Villa board could potentially target Shakhtar Donetsk coach Paulo Fonseca.
"Jorge Mendes has links with the #AVFC board now and I'm hearing rumours they could target Paulo Fonseca at Shakhtar."@JPercyTelegraph believes Villa could follow Wolves' model in a bid for promotion to the #PL. pic.twitter.com/QUlgC9CMRk
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) October 3, 2018
