Nigel Pearson or Mick McCarthy should take charge of Aston Villa, says Paul Merson
Friday 22 April 2016 13:47, UK
Paul Merson thinks Aston Villa should appoint either Nigel Pearson or Mick McCarthy as their next manager.
Villa's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed after last week's 1-0 defeat at Manchester United, the first time they have fallen out of the top flight since 1987.
Eric Black has been acting as manager since Remi Garde left his post in March and will remain in charge until a new manager is appointed.
And Merson insists the club's first big decision of the summer should be to appoint a manager with Championship experience, putting forward Pearson and McCarthy as two potential candidates that fit the bill for Villa.
"My first big signing would be the manager," the former Villa star told Sky Sports Now. "The manager has to be right. It has to be a proven Championship (manager) and for me that's the main thing. He has to tick those boxes.
"Nigel Pearson has done it at Leicester. Mick McCarthy has done it for 15 years. For me, one of those two managers would have to be in charge and that would be my prime signing."
And whoever comes in to take the reigns at Villa Park, Sky Sports pundit Merson thinks they will have a lot of work to do to overhaul Villa's squad, which is set for a bottom-placed finish in the Premier League.
"There's a lot of work to do," Merson added. "There are a lot of players on a lot of money.
"Do you take a chance and get rid and start again or do you hope those players go into the Championship and come straight back up?
"It's all about the manager. He will be the biggest signing of the whole pre-season."
