Villa Outcast Bent on Lambert's Sacking

New boss with ‘fresh approach’ will lift club

Darren Bent believes Paul Lambert’s departure and the arrival of a new manager at Aston Villa is likely to give the whole club a lift.

 

Lambert was shown the door on Wednesday following a ten game winless that has seen Villa plunge into the Premier League relegation zone.

Bent, on-loan at Derby from the Midlands club, insists he has no axe to grind with the Scot despite being marginalised since his arrival in 2012.

But the striker reckons bringing in a new boss with ‘fresh ideas’ will galvanise the Villa squad and give them a great chance of escaping trouble.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the 31-year-old said: “Aston Villa are a massive football club, a fantastic football club, and it is a shame where they are in the table. I'm sure whoever comes in will do a good job and get them out of there because they have good enough players for them to do that.

“There are some top, top players there who are maybe low on a bit of confidence but, on any given day, they can beat anyone, especially with the supporters there. With some big games coming up, I am sure the players will be able to turn it around and start looking in the right direction in the league table.

“I think maybe they just they need a fresh approach really. I don't know who they have got in mind to become their new manager but someone needs to go in there with a bit of freshness, mix things up a little bit, and just try something new.

“They are in a tough position. If someone comes in with fresh ideas, new tactics, it might just give the whole place a lift, including the supporters, the staff, everyone associated with the club.”

With Villa having struggled for goals all season, many supporters are keen to see Bent return now Lambert has gone.

But the hitman, who has been prolific throughout his career and has netted four times in five games for Derby since joining them last month, is unsure if there is a recall option in the deal and appears happy to stay with the Championship promotion chasers for the remainder of the season.

“I’m not quite sure the details of the agreement but, for now, I am still a Derby player and we have got a big FA Cup game this weekend [against Reading] which I am concentrating on," he said.

"It is nice to be getting minutes under my belt. Me going back to Aston Villa is out of my hands, to be honest. I am a Derby County player at the moment and I am enjoying my time here – it is nice to be playing."