Rémi Garde has admitted he could be sacked as Aston Villa manager this summer after cutting short a heated media conference yesterday.
The manager was led from the press room during a broadcast session before their match away to Manchester City today after a series of questions about the complete lack of January signings at the Barclays Premier League’s bottom club. The Frenchman then claimed in a later briefing with newspaper journalists that a decision about his own future could be taken out of his hands.
Garde, who has won only two league games since taking over from Tim Sherwood in November, became irritated by questions from broadcasters about stories of splits within the squad and resistance from senior players to his training methods. He also disliked questions about January transfers.
Villa’s press officer called a halt to the taped section of the press conference and left the room with the manager.
Later, Garde refused to commit his future beyond the end of the season but admitted for the first time he could be asked to leave by the club, who are conducting an inquiry into their season.
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“I’m not in a position where I decide what I want to do,” he said. “I’m under contract with this football club and I will do what they ask me to do.
“Of course I’m committed for the next ten games that we have to play. This is my role. The time will come where we have to discuss everything. I’m only concentrating on the next ten games.
“I’ve got a contract with the club. I’m happy to be the manager of this club. I’m focused on the next ten games because I came to this football club to try to avoid relegation. This is the main target.”
Bookmakers cut the odds of Garde being the next top-flight manager to leave his job yesterday after his walk-out and stories of a dressing-room split.
Garde insisted the squad was not divided but said:“When you are in trouble everybody sees it as natural behaviour to protect yourself first.
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“We are in a situation where a lot of people now are in trouble. It is difficult to cope. It’s easier to say, ‘This is not my responsibility or my fault’.
“I won’t run away from my responsibility. But I cannot control that people try to protect themselves.”