The three best candidates for the vacant Aston Villa managerial role

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Steve Bruce

At the time of writing, Steve Bruce is the odds-on favourite to become the next man to take the helm of the Birmingham based side. The former Hull manager has also received backing for the job from Robbie Savage (for whatever that is worth), and considering how close he was the to the England job, he may well represent a good appointment for Dr. Xia.

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Bruce has a wealth of experience managing in the Premier League, but perhaps more importantly for Villa in the short term, achieved promotion from the Championship to the Premier League twice with Hull City, as well as getting to an FA Cup final. Believed to still live in the midlands, Bruce would be, in most football fan’s eyes, a safe pair of hands with top level calibre, equalling a good choice for Aston Villa and Dr. Xia.

However, as a former manager of second city rivals Birmingham City, who managed there for six years and won two promotions to the Premier League, may be an obstacle to some Villa fans taking the Geordie to their hearts and minds. With the importance of the support of the fan’s (especially given Villa’s recent history) is this fact alone enough to stop Bruce taking the Villa job?