The Times believe that Alex McLeish has gone and is anyone surprised? No, not really. He was never going to last and they were always going to wait until the end of the season and that isn't me saying it now, that is sort of an ongoing prediction.
He was never good enough but sadly that isn't the real problem. The real problem is that someone at the club thought he was and when he was appointed, that was why we called it a dark day for Aston Villa.
But reports are still sketchy and the club have not yet confirmed the news that is widely expected. The only paper and it is a respected one that is saying he has gone is The Times. A less respected rag, The Birmingham Mail report that he will be gone today, but they like to kick a man when he is down and have no bottle for it when he is standing.
Best forgotten
so, take today and be happy. The season is over and if reports are to be believed, the manager has gone too, but and this is just my advice, move on quickly. This manager was never going to be a success at our club or any other Premier League club and the past eleven months have been embarrassing. My point is that this season is best forgotten.
It isn't stopping with McLeish
And don't be surprised if more changes happen. McLeish was always going to fail and that is why someone else will probably be leaving, even if they are offered another role within the club.
Faulkner has to be held responsible for this and him leaving will look like he did the honourable thing, but truth is, his position is now untenable at Aston Villa and as soon as a new CEO can be found, he'll move somewhere else.
Just hope the new CEO can move in quickly because we are players and manager down and we need some new blood. The season might have just ended but there isn't long until the new one starts and there is a mountain of work to begin.
New men
So, if the above is true, we start the search for two new men and it is massively important that we do not go into this blinkered. We have to go into this with an open mind and with blue sky thinking. It isn't about next season, it is about the next ten and we need a CEO who understands this and not just says it.
The manager also has to get the full support of the owner and CEO and most importantly, if they appoint the right man, the supporters. But as long as they appoint the right man, we will see soon enough that they have. But it is a massive job at Aston Villa with massive potential and with that comes a large amount of pressure but also a talented group of players that can develop to play the right way.
It is all here waiting for the right men. Let us not make the same mistake again.