Steve Bruce: Aston Villa hold talks with former Hull manager to replace sacked Roberto di Matteo

Villa are without a manager having sacked Roberto di Matteo on Monday after 123 days in charge

Steve Bruce is understood to be keen on the job (Getty)

Former Hull and Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce has made contact with Aston Villa with regards to their managerial vacancy.

Villa sacked Roberto di Matteo on Monday, with the club 19th in the Championship and without a win in nine games.

Bruce has emerged as the leading contender for the job and it’s believed the 55-year-old has begun holding talks with the club.

The Englishman has an impressive record in the Championship having guided a total of four teams to the Premier League, including Hull last May.

Bruce has been out of work since leaving the club in July but was interviewed by the Football Association for the England job following Roy Hodgson’s resignation.

Former Birmingham midfielder Robbie Savage, who played under Bruce at St Andrew’s, described him as the “right man” for the job.

Di Matteo’s assistant Steve Clarke remains in charge at Villa as a caretaker but is also thought to be in contention with the club impressed at how players have responded to him this past week.

The highly-regarded David Wagner, who has guided Huddersfield to the top of the Championship, has seemingly ruled himself out of the running after being linked with the job.

Huddersfield chairman Dean Hoyle recently said: "David has told me that he would never leave us for another Championship club, regardless of which club that is."