Newly installed Aston Villa manager David O'Leary has sacked his assistant manager John Deehan and first team coach Stuart Gray as the Irishman continues to reorganise his backroom staff ahead of the new season.
Deehan is a former Villa striker who was brought in by the Midlands club during John Gregory's reign. Gray's affiliation with the club goes further back to Graham Taylor's first spell as manager of the Villans.
Both were involved at the club during Talyor's second spell, that was until the former England manager resigned last month after Villa narrowly avoided relegation and finished 16th in the Premiership.
O'Leary is hoping to lure Leeds' reserve team boss Roy Aitken to Villa Park, while Eddie Gray and Brian Kidd have also been linked with a similar move to rejoin O'Leary.
O'Leary has already appointed Ian Bloomfield as chief scout for the club.