Aston Villa exclusive: Paddy Riley sacked after Steve Round's arrivalThe much-maligned Director of Scouting and Recruitment's time at Villa Park is upAston Villa have axed failed talent-spotter Paddy Riley, the Birmingham Mail can reveal.
The much-maligned director of recruitment and scouting was today told to leave by technical director Steve Round who has immediately stamped his authority on the role.
His position was always likely to come under threat after a disastrous record in the transfer market led to Villa’s first relegation from the top-flight for almost 30 years.
The change in ownership also played a huge part. Riley was close with ex-chairman Randy Lerner but when the ambitious Tony Xia took over this summer he immediately set about revamping the under-performing departments at the club.
In May the Birmingham Mail exclusively reported that Riley was facing the sack.
It’s little surprise given that three former managers all collided with him following his return from Liverpool for a second spell at the club in 2013.
Paul Lambert felt that he couldn’t do his job properly with Riley on board.
Claims that the scouting co-ordinator orchestrated the deal to bring Christian Benteke to Villa are also wide off the mark. He was sourced largely by Lambert and his men.
Birmingham Mail
Tim Sherwood’s struggles were well-documented.
When the former Premier League winner wanted to assemble his own squad in 2015/16 after working miracles to keep Villa in the top-flight the previous season, Riley persuaded Lerner that his foreign recommendations were the answer, yet clearly they weren’t ready.
Remi Garde’s relationship with Riley took an even darker twist.
Angered and bitterly-frustrated with the influence from Lerner’s close ally, the Frenchman refused to even acknowledge his colleague at Bodymoor Heath as things continued to turn sour.
Aston Villa manager Remi Garde after the 6-0 defeat to Liverpool at Villa ParkAston Villa manager Remi Garde after the 6-0 defeat to Liverpool at Villa Park
All three felt that Riley stabbed them in the back on a number of occasions and current boss Roberto Di Matteo didn’t let him anywhere near his recruitment plans this summer.
Responsible for contract negotiations last summer, Riley was the man to include the release clauses into the contracts of both Idrissa Gana, who left for £3m less than Villa signed him for, and academy graduate Ciaran Clark.
He also pushed hard for Adama Traore, who could have become Villa’s highest-paid player in history, and Jordan Veretout, the French flop who was sent out on loan this summer.
