Dwight Yorke: I could get Aston Villa promoted

Bruce was axed by Villa this week following a run of just one win in ten games across all competitions.

Former striker, Dwight Yorke has already put his name forward as a potential replacement for the former Blues, Sunderland and Hull City boss - insisting he could be the ideal man to help them back into the Premier League.

“I know I can go in there, play good football and get them promoted. When I see Villa struggling, I want to help. People associate me with Man United but Villa is where it all started for me." he told the Mirror.

“I’ve got a burning ambition, so much belief and commitment. I’ve got a connection with the fans and surely having that rapport will give you a massive advantage."

“I’ve seen the club suffer the disappointments, the heartache and the pain. There’s been too many changes, too many wrong appointments for me to turn my back on it.

“We have to make sure Villa gets back where it belongs. It’s a great club. The whole place, the fans, everyone, needs something different, a fresh start and I feel I can give that excitement at the club.

The 46-year-old spent nine years at Villa Park as a player, making more than 200 appearances and scoring 73 league goals before departing for Manchester United.

He went on to form a prolific partnership with Andy Cole, winning the Premier League in three consecutive seasons along with lifting the Champions League trophy and FA Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Yorke claims he has the backing of the Scot to make the move into management - and believes he can be relied upon to do the job, after failing with a previous application for the vacancy before Bruce's appointment.

“I’ve got a recommendation from Sir Alex. I’ve got his backing and he says that if I need his support then he’s on the end of the phone. He wouldn’t say that unless he believed I could do the job.

“I’m sitting in Dubai, if you could see the view from my apartment then you’d think I was nuts, but I’d love to get into management. I wouldn’t go anywhere near it unless I thought I could do the job.

“Villa, to me, seem like they need something new. I sent my CV in, but I’m not sure if it’ll be read or looked at.”

“I applied for the job before Brucie, didn’t even get a response let alone an interview. Having played there for ten years and I felt I knew how I could do the job.

“Before Brucie got the job, I went for it, I made it public I was interested but as soon as he got it I backed off as I’ve got respect for him as a man and a manager. But I had been upset by Remi Garde, Tim Sherwood, McLeish and none of them seemed suited to the job.

“These guys have been given the opportunity with very little knowledge or experience of the situation.

Having made a big impact on the pitch as a player, the former Trinidad and Tobago international says that he 'knows what it takes' to manage Villa - whilst also highlighting the recent appointments of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as examples of other clubs taking a chance on unproven former professionals.

“Because of the kind of relationship I had with the fans, I know what it takes. Lampard got a job, Gerrard got a job. What have they done more than me?

“At least if I got an interview, then I’d get some feedback. But nothing. Then the same names keep on cropping up. We come a time as players when we have to retire.

“I feel there should be something similar for managers because you get the same old names coming round again and no young managers coming through.

“I’ve got the qualifications. I’ve spoken to Gareth Southgate, I played with him at Villa, and he went into management without qualifications. He didn’t have anything. Roy Keane the same. I have nothing against Gareth at all, but at least they took a chance with him.

“I don’t like to say it but there’s a truth about it. Ask me why I wouldn’t get an interview for Villa? I’m looking at Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joey Barton and Lee Bowyer. Then when it comes to me I keep being told: ‘Dwight, you need more experience.’

“What’s the point in the Rooney Rule? I’m sure it should be implemented. What I find mind boggling is the percentage of black or mixed race players and I speak to so many guys trying to get coaching jobs and they can’t get those, let alone managerial jobs.

“I expected to hear back from them last time but it didn’t happen. But this is why I’m speaking out again to hopefully make the hierarchy listen and at least give me the courtesy so they can hear me out. Things happen for a reason and I hope this might be the time.

“If they don’t think I’m suited to the job or the right man, then I can accept that if I get an explanation and also some feedback to work from. I can accept that. But not to hear back from them again would leave me thinking all sorts.”