Brian Little has resigned as the manager of Aston Villa.

His decision comes after Villa's 2-1 defeat at Wimbledon on Saturday, which left the club 15th in the 20-team Premier League.

Villa face a UEFA Cup quarter-final, first-leg away match against Atletico Madrid next Tuesday.

In a statement, the chairman of Aston Villa, Doug Ellis, said: "I am sad and disappointed to announce that Brian Little has resigned as manager of Aston Villa forthwith.

"We are in the process of securing the services of another team manager, but in the meantime Allan Evans and the coaching staff will be in charge.

"We wish Brian the best of luck in whatever he chooses to do in the future," he said.

Brian Little factfile

• 1953: Born Horden, Co Durham, November 25
• 1971: Joined Aston Villa
• 1975: Member of the Villa side which won promotion to division one and the League Cup
• 1979: Proposed £600,000 move to Birmingham collapsed when Little failed a medical
• 1981: Retired from playing after 242 league appearances for Villa and appointed youth coach at the club
• 1989: Appointed Darlington manager in February
• 1990: Steered Darlington to GM Vauxhall Conference title and back into the league
• 1994: Managed Leicester to promotion to Premier League via Wembley play-offs
• 1995: Named manager at Aston Villa in November
• 1996: Led Villa to a Coca-Cola Cup final win
• 1998: With Villa six points above the relegation zone in 15th place, Little resigns.
   
  
  
  
  
  

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