Roberto Di Matteo sacked by Aston Villa

The Italian has left with Villa 19th in the Sky Bet Championship despite spending around £50million in the summer.

Di Matteo was appointed in June with a remit to gain an instant return to the Premier League after relegation last season but won just one of his 12 games in charge.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Preston proved the final straw and a Villa statement read: "Aston Villa Football Club has today parted company with manager Roberto Di Matteo.

"The club decided to act following a run of disappointing results which has left the team occupying 19th position in the Championship.

"The club would like to place on record its appreciation to Roberto for all his efforts in helping rebuild the squad and wish him well for the future."

Assistant manager Steve Clarke will be in caretaker charge but Villa do not play again until after the international break, when they host Wolves on October 15.

Di Matteo's reign is the shortest of any permanent Villa boss in the club's history and they are now looking for their fifth full-time manager since February 2014.