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Eric Black will take full Aston Villa training for first time on Friday

Aston Villa are on the verge of appointing Eric Black as assistant boss

Eric Black will take charge of his first full training session in charge of Aston Villa on Friday, Sky Sports News HQ understands.

Scotsman Black, who managed Motherwell and Coventry in the early 2000s, has been installed as caretaker manager following the departure of manager Remi Garde - after only 147 days in charge - on Tuesday.

Black is expected to be assisted by Robert Duverne, Garde's fitness coach who remains with the club, and goalkeeping coach Phil Parkes.

However, it is understood that under-21s coach Kevin MacDonald, who had two separate spells as Villa caretaker boss - in 2013 and again earlier this season - will not be involved in the running of first-team affairs.

Villa are bottom of the Premier League, with only 16 points from 31 games. That record leaves them with just seven games left to claw back a 12-point deficit from safety.

Remi Garde
Image: Remi Garde was sacked on Tuesday after just over four months in charge

Black's first game in charge will be Saturday's clash with Chelsea.

It is understood that Black has already met some of the players, but will address them all on Friday once the full squad is back from the international break.

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He will also face the media for the first time on Friday, with news throughout the day on Sky Sports News HQ.

Meanwhile, Villa No 2 Reginald Ray left the club on Thursday after his compensation package was agreed.

The former Bastia coach was brought in by Garde last year but, with Black in caretaker charge, he has cut ties with the strugglers.

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