Championship News: Steve Bruce sacked by Aston VillaÂ

Bruce, who led Villa to the Play-Off Final last year where they lost to Fulham, has overseen a dreadful start to this Championship campaign, with only three league wins on the board.

Villa have won just once in their last nine games, against Rotherham, and both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday defeated Bruce's side during that period. 

They are currently 12th in the Championship table and Bruce had come under increasing pressure, with a cabbage being hurled at him during Tuesday night's home draw with Preston.

The 57-year-old, who has won promotion to the Premier League twice with two different clubs - Birmingham and Hull - replaced Roberto Di Matteo at Villa Park in October 2016.

A club statement read: "Aston Villa can confirm that manager Steve Bruce and his assistants Colin Calderwood, Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence and Gary Walsh are leaving their posts with immediate effect after having their contracts terminated. The process to appoint a new manager is under way.'

A further statement issued on behalf of the board added: "We would like to place on record our gratitude to Steve and his team for their hard work and commitment. We wish them well for the future.

"The process of recruiting a new manager has begun. In the meantime, Kevin MacDonald, Aston Villa Under-23s manager, will be in charge of the team for our trip to Millwall on Saturday."