Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner admits 'the worst year in a generation' saw the club veer dangerously close to disaster.
Chief executive says results cost McLeish his job
Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner admits 'the worst year in a generation' saw the club veer dangerously close to disaster.
Villa ended the 2011/12 campaign just two points clear of the relegation zone and with their lowest points return in 42 years.
Unsurprisingly, manager Alex McLeish paid the price for such failings on Monday as he was ushered to the exit.
Faulkner admits decisive action had to be taken on the back of what was a hugely disappointing showing from the Midlands-based outfit.
"I suppose disaster would have been getting relegated, but this was too close for comfort," he said.
McLeish was axed after just one season in the Villa Park hot-seat.
His strong ties to local rivals Birmingham worked against him throughout his tenure, but Faulkner believes it was results on the field that ultimately cost him his job.
Feelings
"It is all connected to results, it all goes hand-in-hand," he said.
"I think the fans' feelings were because of our results, which were not good enough.
"Like all fans of any club, they were going to make their feelings known.
"This is the worst year that Villa has had in a generation. There are a whole group of fans who have never known it this bad for Villa, so I am not surprised (by the reaction) at all."
Former Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed McLeish.
Norwich manager Paul Lambert and Wigan's Roberto Martinez, who was linked with the post last summer, have also been mentioned as possible replacements.
