I’ve not enjoyed it at Villa, too much has gone wrong – Black

Eric Black: Problems seem to be mounting at Villa

Eric Black: Problems seem to be mounting at Villa

Aston Villa caretaker manager Eric Black admits he has not enjoyed being in charge of the sinking club.

The 52-year-old has lost his four games since taking over from Remi Garde last month and Villa were relegated from the Premier League on his watch two weeks ago.

They go to Watford on Saturday having lost their last 10 matches and defeat at Vicarage Road would equal a club record losing run which was set in 1963.

While in charge Black has seen Gabriel Agbonlahor suspended and step down as club captain after he was pictured apparently partying after Villa’s relegation.

He also dropped Jores Okore to the under-21s after claiming the defender had said he was not in the right frame of mind to be on the bench against Bournemouth this month.

“I’ve got to be honest – I don’t think there’s been a lot of enjoyment,” said Black, with Villa bottom and about to slip out of the top flight since 1987.

“I don’t want it to sound like I’m looking for sympathy because I’m not but there’s a lot of negativity around, especially over the last seven or eight weeks and that has made it hard.

“This is not a normal job in football, you’re not working with normal football elements here.

“But the elements are what they are and I’m caretaker manager so I will do what I can to make sure it remains professional and hopefully get a result Saturday.”

Black expects to remain in charge until the end of the season with Villa linked to Nigel Pearson and David Moyes but admitted he remains in the dark about his own future.

“I’m taking it on until the last game as far as I know and that will be as far as I go with the team,” he said.

“I was given the remit to work until we have a new manager.

“I would imagine now it will be until the last game but I don’t know in terms of time scale. I’ve no idea, I don’t know how it will turn out.”