Sherwood appointed Aston Villa manager

Aston Villa has confirmed Tim Sherwood as their new manager, signing a three-year deal with the Premier League club.

The Villans have acted quickly to appoint the former Tottenham boss, having sacked Paul Lambert from the position on Wednesday after the club dropped into the Premier League relegation zone for the first time this season.

A number of candidates had distanced themselves from the role, including Derby boss Steve McClaren and England Under-21 manager Gareth Southgate, but Sherwood has emerged as Villa's man.

The appointment may come as a surprise for some, including coach Scott Marshall and former striker Stan Collymore, who both claimed the club needed an experienced manager at the helm.

A club statement read: "Aston Villa Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Tim Sherwood as our new manager."

"Tim, 46, joins after a long and successful coaching career with Tottenham, culminating a short but successful period as manager, and has agreed a contract that will see him take charge until the end of season 2017-18."

"The club are excited to have secured the services of one of English football's most highly sought after managers."

Following the confirmation of his appointment, the new Villa boss said: "It is a great honour to manage one of the biggest clubs in English football."

"I can't wait to get started and I'm really looking forward to the challenge."

Club chairman Randy Lerner added that he hopes it will be a change that "offers a positive, fresh approach that will be very good for the club, while chief executive Tom Fox praised Sherwood's commitment to youth development at Spurs."

"Randy and I are really pleased that Tim has decided to join the club," Fox said.

"Tim had a fantastic career at Tottenham, not only in his brief spell as first-team manager but, just as importantly, in the role he played in developing young talent."

"We are determined to build a football operation with a long-term vision and a commitment to youth development."

"We strongly believe Tim has the qualities to get the best out of our current squad and help us build and develop for the future."