Wednesday 23 March 2016 14:53, UK
Former Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says he is not surprised by the club's struggles in the Premier League this season.
Villa are rooted to the foot of the table on 16 points - having won just three games all season - 12 points from safety with just seven matches remaining.
And Lambert, in charge at Villa Park between 2012 and 2015, has told Sky Sports News HQ the writing has been on the wall for a while, and believes their problems come down to player recruitment.
"I could see it coming, just because the way it was happening," said the Blackburn manager.
"I can only speak on my time - but that club deserves big players. We tried to bring in Lukaku, Bony and others. No disrespect to the ones we got in, but we couldn't go out and do that type of deal. It was too rich for us.
"Christian Benteke was the only big one we could get, and even then he was only 7m euros at the time. So you had to work round the restraints of it. The young French players that have come in are probably good players, but Aston Villa needs big players.
"Maybe three or four leaders in your team - that football club needs big players to handle a crowd and the expectancy. Any team that wins a European Cup should never be in this position.
"History attaches to it, and that should attract bigger players. I think they've suffered, not just in my time, but even before. The last good period was when Martin O'Neill was there (2006-2010) and he had them going brilliantly."
Lambert was speaking alongside Ray Wilkins on Sky Sports Now, and Wilkins, who was assistant manager to Tim Sherwood at Villa earlier this season, does not think there is any way back for the club now.
"Yes, they are relegated. I don't think they can get out of it. There isn't any way, shape or form they can get out of this situation. They just keep losing games unfortunately.
I don't think they can get out of it. There isn't any way, shape or form they can get out of this situation. They just keep losing games unfortunately.
"Paul is right, you have to keep progressing. Once you've won something, you have to keep adding to that. The support base is magnificent and the set-up is incredibly good. But, when a manager is employed to do a specific job, one of them is to recruit players.
"But not only at Aston Villa, there's been more of an input (from others) into which players are coming in, and for me it has to be 100% on the manager if player is to come in."
"It has to be down to the manager. He will eventually take the blast from the supporters. The supporters only see what's on the field of play. They want to see their team win.
"When they do go down, the Championship is so tough. It's going to be extremely difficult, but rotation will have to come into play next season. The games come thick and really fast."
