After Sunday’s results in the English Premier League, there was a new team at the very bottom of the league table, and that team decided to make a major change to its staff.
After a 2-1 home loss to Swansea City, Aston Villa relieved head coach Tim Sherwood of his duties Sunday. Along with Sherwood, assistant manager Ray Wilkins, first-team coach Mark Robson and performance analyst Seamus Brady were also dismissed.
“The Board has monitored the performances closely all season and believes the results on the pitch were simply not good enough and that a change is imperative,” a statement from the English club reads.
“However, the Club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Tim for all his efforts during a difficult period last season and for the many positive contributions he has made to the entire football setup during his time with the Club. We wish him well in the future.”
Aston Villa has only secured four points from the first 10 games of the 2015-16 EPL season, and Kevin MacDonald will take charge of the club as interim manager.
Here are some more news and notes:
SHEIKH SALMAN SUBMITS BID TO BECOME NEXT FIFA PRESIDENT
The current president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is reportedly in the running to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA’s next president in February of 2016.
Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, who had previously backed UEFA president Michel Platini, announced his submission of papers to FIFA headquarters Sunday, according to Bahrain News Agency.
SALAH SPARKS ROMA TO FIRST PLACE IN SERIE A
There is a new leader atop the Serie A table, as a former Chelsea winger continues to shine for AS Roma.
Mohamed Salah scored his fifth goal of the season in the sixth minute well before being shown a red card in the 87th minute to help Roma top Fiorentina, 2-1, at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Salah spent half of the 2014-15 campaign with the Florence club, but he was the thorn in its side come Sunday. Gervinho gave the visitors the eventual game-winning tally in the 34th minute, as Khouma Babacar would score for the home side in second-half stoppage time.
The win vaults Roma to the top of the Italian table with 20 points after nine games, while Fiorentina is one of four teams with 18 points.
Elsewhere in Serie A competition, Sampdoria defeated Hellas Verona, 4-1, AC Milan beat Sassuolo, 2-1, and Udinense edged Frosinone, 1-0, while Napoli defeated Chievo Verona by the same scoreline. Lazio easily handled Torino, 3-0, and Juventus won, 2-0, against Atalanta.
QUICK KICKS:
The Manchester derby ended in a scoreless tie, but Manchester United head coach Louis Van Gaal thought the referee did not give his side the “benefit of the doubt” when Ander Herrera went down in the penalty box. (REPORT)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his side had “no belief” that it could find a game-winner after Southampton tied his team. (REPORT)
UEFA will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the FIFA election contest, the deadline to enter for which ends in less than 12 hours. (REPORT)
Cameron Brannagan, 19, has signed a new contract with Liverpool. (REPORT)
Tottenham pummeled AFC Bournemouth, 5-1, while Sunderland won the Tyne-Wear derby, 3-0, against Newcastle.
Barcelona coolly handled Eibar, 3-1, Las Palmas and Villarreal played to a scoreless tie, Real Sociedad pounded Levante, 4-0, and Atletico Madrid defeated Valencia, 2-1.
In the Bundesliga, Borrusia Dortmund pounded FC Augsburg, 5-1, while Borussia Monchengladbach topped Schalke 04, 3-1.
In Ligue 1, AS Monaco took down Stade de Reims, 1-0, Bordeauex defeated Troyes, 1-0, Marseille beat Lille, 2-1, and Paris Saint-Germain dominated St. Etienne, 4-1.