SHAUN GOATER has taken charge of Aston Villa’s women’s side following the sacking of Robert de Pauw.
The Manchester City legend, 54, is managing the team in the interim following the departure of the Holland-born coach.
And the former striker, who scored more than a hundred times for the Cityzens, oversaw his first game at the helm when Villa hosted Charlton in the Women’s League Cup on Wednesday night.
De Pauw’s exit, announced by the club yesterday, came three days after the Villans fell to a fifth loss in nine top-flight games.
The Dutchman is alleged to have made unprofessional remarks to players, including comments about their appearance.
According to The Guardian concerns were raised in-house about the claims which the club are reported to have looked into.
The Sun has contacted Villa for comment on those claims.
The Dutch coach left the club “with immediate effect” after just six months at the helm.
Just 24 hours earlier the ex-Bayer Leverkusen chief posted what many regarded as a cryptic message on LinkedIn.
De Pauw wrote: “Finding the balance between the short term and long term in the best interest for the team and club is not an easy thing. It comes with big sacrifices.”
“You need the backing of the club if you want the team to go from average, to good, to better, to top.
“This reselecting and developing of a team is a necessary thing to do to make these steps. I did this in Leverkusen the past two seasons selecting on football, behaviour and characteristics of the players.
“I never shy away from difficult decisions and I will certainly not win the popularity contests. Because you can never satisfy everyone.
“But always keeping standards high to get the best out of the team and each other.”
Following a promising pre-season that included a friendly win against Man City, the Villans have endured a poor start to this season.
The team were trounced 4-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday and have notched just ONE win in the WSL so far this term.
Their dismal run has left them fourth from bottom and just one point above bottom-placed Crystal Palace before their final WSL game this year on Sunday.
The team are due to host West Ham who are ninth with eight points and also battling to avoid the drop.
De Pauw’s departure was announced in a brief written statement published on their web site.
They say Goater will be in charge of their women’s squad “until a new manager is appointed and will be supported by the wider coaching team”.
The former Bermuda international joined Villa as assistant women’s team head coach in August.
Before then Goater had worked as an assistant to Cityzens women’s side gaffer Gareth Taylor from April last year to June until this summer.
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