Despite being earmarked to take the reigns at Villa Park and manage the newly relegated side in the championship next season, it appears that bookies favourite Nigel Pearson has snubbed the chance to become their next manager in bizarre circumstances.
"?The Daily Express has reported that Pearson, despite being top of new impending Villa owner Tony Xia's list right now, was initially only third choice to take over the claret and blues.
According to reports, David Moyes and Roberto Di Matteo had both been approached to sign on at Aston Villa before Pearson, but both spurred the opportunity for different reasons. While Moyes seemed unsure about battling it out in the second division of English football, Di Matteo's interest has cooled after being linked with the Lazio job in Serie A.
Pearson would have been appointed had the club not been going through a complex take over bid by Xia himself, however, on hearing he was just third choice, the former Leicester City manager is ready to rule himself out of the job completely.
One man who appears to be extremely keen for the job is former treble winning Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, who also spent a part of his career playing at Villa Park, with "?talkSPORT reporting that he is still hopeful to be offered the chance to interview for the role.
Yorke has been overlooked thus far by the new owners, but despite understanding a new direction may be taken by the club, he, alongside the backing from his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, is still hopeful to be considered.
"I would still love to manage the club. When Remi Garde left, I felt I was going to get an interview but that was put on hold."
"The new owners that have taken over now probably have a different direction but I am still hopeful they will give me an opportunity for an interview."
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