Villa confirm Eric Black as first-team coach

The 52-year-old Scot, who left his position as assistant boss at Rotherham yesterday, helped manager Remi Garde take training this morning.

Garde said: "I'm pleased to welcome Eric to the football club and I'm really looking forward to working with him.

"He will work alongside Reginald Ray, Robert Duverne and Tony Parks as part of my coaching staff.

"Eric brings a wealth of experience and excellent knowledge of English football and he will help me improve the level of the team."

Black managed both Motherwell and Coventry City, before becoming assistant to Steve Bruce at Birmingham City in 2004.

The former Aberdeen striker has since been a coach at Blackburn, Wigan and Sunderland and speaks fluent French, after five seasons playing for Metz.