The club are just two points above the drop zone having spent the last few seasons challenging at the top of the table under Martin O’Neill.
But Chief Executive Paul Faulkner insisted: “It’s not even a vote of confidence because nothing has changed for us. We knew it was going to be hard and we are on a bad run. But the answer is to work even harder – and Gerard is doing that. Of course, West Brom is a massive game, it’s a local derby, but everyone who cares for Villa should stick together. Our stance has been, ever since Randy took charge of the club in 2006, to build for the long term. Continuity always pays off.”
