Tim Sherwood has pledged to keep Aston Villa in the Premier League but admits the club are running out of time to avoid relegation. After being appointed as Paul Lambert’s successor on Monday, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager believes he has sufficient quality at his disposal in the final 13 games of the season as he prepares for his first outing in charge against Stoke City at home on Saturday.
“You have only one way to go – and that is up,” he said. “And that is exactly what I want to do. The club is not in a great position, hence why I am here. It is on my shoulders to take us forward and I take all the responsibility.
“I am grateful for the opportunity here and I will give it everything. All I can do is do my best and I think my best is going to be good enough.”
Villa slipped into the relegation zone after five successive league defeats and have not won at home in the Premier League since the beginning of December when they edged past Leicester City. Sherwood was in the stands on Sunday to witness a repeat result against Nigel Pearson’s team in the FA Cup when his positivity from a half-time dash to the dressing room reaped an instant reward.
While confirming he has appointed Mark Robson, as coach, and Seamus Brady, as analyst, to his backroom staff, Sherwood will take his time to identify an assistant manager, although one candidate may have emerged at Bodymoor Heath this week after the chairman Randy Lerner’s enthusiastic emergence from the shadows.
“He picked the team,” Sherwood said, jokingly. “You talk about passion and no one’s more passionate than Randy Lerner. We had a good chat and like every chairman, he has the best interests of the club at heart.
“I’m confident in what I do on the training field. I don’t have to dress it up any differently. I didn’t put any bells and whistles on it because Randy was watching.”
Sherwood is convinced the players, who have managed only eight home league goals all season, are accepting his remit to play with greater freedom. “I really think they are buying into what I’m trying to tell them,” he said. “It’s not the Krypton Factor. It’s a gradual process. Rome wasn’t built in a day and it’s going to take time. We know we’re running out of time and we’re aiming to get the best out of this group as soon as possible, starting Saturday.”
Sherwood will leave the issue of Ron Vlaar’s future – the Holland defender’s contract expires in the summer – with the board. “I was very impressed with him on Sunday. You need experience. The club want to keep their best players. I’m sure the club will endeavour to try to keep Ron. It’s not really for now. The focus is picking the right team and Ron focusing on playing and doing his best for the club, as he is.”
