Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has claimed that his old side will be relegated from the Premier League this season under manager Remi Garde.
The Midlands outfit sacked Tim Sherwood last month following a poor start to the campaign and replaced him with the Frenchman, but he has failed to win any of his first three games in charge.
Villa are seven points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table following Saturday's home defeat to Watford, and Bosnich has admitted that he is concerned over the club's future.
"No disrespect to Remi, but he wasn't the right man to bring in while they are in so much trouble. You have seen the effect Sam Allardyce already has had at Sunderland," Bosnich told talkSPORT.
"I don't think they have got it in them nor do I think they have the ability to get out of the problem they are in. One victory all season tells a story in itself.
"They are in a really, really bad rut. Unless they get two or three proper world class players in in January, which I doubt is going to happen, then they are going to go down. They have flirted with relegation the last couple of seasons and there is only so many times you can do that before it is your turn."
Villa travel to Southampton next Saturday.