Eric Black: Relegation is devastating for Villa

The claret and blues exit from the top flight was confirmed by a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Villa have been bottom of the league since November and while their fate has looked inevitable for several weeks, Black admitted the final confirmation still came as a serious blow.

"It has not been overnight but when the realisation hits that it is official, it is a sad dressing room.

"I thought the performance today, we worked extremely hard but it is not today which has decided it. It is devastating."

With Sunderland having beaten Norwich 3-0 earlier in the day, Villa knew they could have earned another mathematical reprieve with a win at Old Trafford.

But they fell to their ninth successive defeat, courtesy of Marcus Rashford's first-half goal.

Black added: "Today I thought we worked exceptionally hard. I don't think anybody can point any fingers at the players today in terms of their energy and willingness to get a bit of sweat on their shirt.

"That's what I wanted. It's a minimal step. I'm not talking here about changing the world. I just wanted in some small way to try and get supporters slightly towards the players again.

"The only way they can do that is on the pitch and today they did that I thought. They deserve the credit.

"It's under horrible circumstances. Devastating circumstances. The job has got to start now. The rebuild has got to start now."