Peter Taylor questions timing of Remi Garde departure

Former England Under-21s coach Peter Taylor has weighed in on the departure of Aston Villa manager Remi Garde and questioned the timing of his exit.

The Frenchman left the Premier League basement club by mutual consent on Tuesday evening, but Taylor was left puzzled by the Midlands outfit's decision to change coaches at this stage in the season.

"The timing is strange. I think the players have underachieved," he told Sky Sports News. "You look at their team sheet and they should be doing a lot better than what they are doing. In that respect the players have not done themselves credit.

"Unfortunately, when that happens it's the manager who has to go. It hasn't looked to me as though he has enjoyed it, nobody enjoys getting beaten every week.

"I feel for him in that respect. They are so far down now I really can't understand the timing of the change."

Eric Black has been placed in temporary charge of Villa until a full-time successor is appointed, with David Moyes, Garry Monk and Nigel Pearson tipped as the frontrunners for the post.