Aston Villa confirm Steve Bruce exit

Aston Villa have confirmed that they sacked manager Steve Bruce after the club's poor start to the season.

The West Midlands outfit only missed out on promotion to the Premier League through defeat in the Championship playoff final last season, but just three wins have been recorded in 11 second-tier fixtures during the current campaign.

Tensions boiled over at Villa Park on Tuesday evening as a supporter threw a cabbage in the direction of Bruce on a night where the club let slip a 2-0 lead to only draw 3-3 with Preston North End, and the club have decided to part company with Bruce after a two-year spell.

A club statement read: "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."

Brentford boss Dean Smith and Belgium assistant Thierry Henry are currently regarded as favourites for the vacant position.