Aston Villa warn of staff cut-backs if club is relegated

The Midlands club have been forced into considering the prospect of life in the Championship

Villa Park, home of Aston Villa (Getty)

Aston Villa have reportedly informed staff of likely financial cut-backs in the event of relegation from the Premier League.

The Midlands club have been forced into considering the prospect of life in the Championship following a disastrous season which has left them eight points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table with just 13 matches remaining.

According to the Mirror, the American-owned club have hired an ‘independent financial fire-fighter’ to assess the business and oversee planning for a stay in the second tier.

Villa have allegedly already began to lay off match-safety stewards and cooperate hospitality staff in direct correlation with falling attendances at Villa Park.

Relegation will mean Remi Garde’s men are set to miss out on the £8bn windfall which is about to flood through the Premier League in line with a new batch of television rights.

Emergency plans at Villa include closing the top tier of the Trinity Road Stand at Villa Park while savings are also likely to be made in community and retail projects.

The ailing club beat Norwich City on Saturday to ease some anxiety but it would be bordering on miraculous of Villa were able to haul themselves away from danger before the end of the season.