Aston Villa's chief executive Keith Wyness has revealed that the club's new owner Tony Xia rejected Sir Alex Ferguson's recommendations on a manager, and hired ex-Chelsea and MK Dons boss Roberto Di Matteo instead.
The club had sought Ferguson's counsel on the matter, but went ahead with their own choice, deciding to take their chances with a Champions League winner, ahead of Manchester United failure David Moyes.
Moyes seems the first name on Ferguson's lips every time a manager has to be advocated, but one can't blame Xia for not taking the Scot's advice, given Moyes' well documented shortcomings at Manchester United and Real Sociedad.
"I still hold a connection with Sir Alex from our shared time at Aberdeen," Wyness said, via the "?Mirror.
"We were undertaking our research and he recommended a few managers to us.
"Sadly for Sir Alex, his first choice was discounted. Roberto's appointment was very much the chairman's decision. However, that's no slight on Sir Alex. If you can speak to the best for their opinions, why wouldn't you?"?
Villa's new Chinese owner is said to have cherry-picked Di Matteo, who had great success at Chelsea, winning the Champions League and FA Cup, months after replacing Andre Villas-Boas in 2012.
It is also understood that Xia appointed the Italian because it would be met with good cheer in his homeland.
Ferguson is undoubtedly one of sports' greatest managers, yet he failed miserably when it came to picking a successor at United. The Red Devils have only won an FA Cup since his retirement, but look to be heading back to the top with Jose Mourinho now at the helm.
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