Aston Villa 'to appoint Eric Black as assistant'

Former Coventry City manager Eric Black is to be appointed as Remi Garde's new assistant manager at struggling Aston Villa, according to a report in the Birmingham Mail.

Black - currently working as a coach at Championship side Rotherham United - was hand-selected by Garde to join his team as the Premier League's basement side continue their unlikely battle against relegation to the second tier.

Villa had held talks with former Manchester United assistant Steve Round about the role earlier this season but the recruitment efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Black has also worked as a coach at Birmingham City, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers and had a playing career that included a five-year spell at French side Metz.