Aston Villa 'launch inquest' into poor season

Premier League strugglers Aston Villa have reportedly launched "a full inquest" into the reasons behind their disastrous season on and off the pitch.

The Midlands side are on course for relegation to the Championship, sitting eight points adrift at the bottom of the table with just 12 games of the season remaining.

According to the Sunday People, new chairman Steve Hollis has launched a consultation alongside director Sir Mervyn King looking into the club's finances, recruitment process and day-to-day administration.

The newspaper speculates that chief executive Tom Fox, who has a reported annual salary of £1m, could lose his job as the side prepares for life in the second tier next season.

American owner Randy Lerner is expected to wait until the end of the campaign before acting on Hollis and King's recommendations.