Aston Villa have today released their list of pre-season exhibition games which will feature as a prelude to their 16/17 Football League Championship season.
Friendly v AFC Telford (A) - 12pm Saturday July 16
Friendly v Worcester City (At Walshes Meadow, Stourport) - 3pm Saturday July 16
Friendly v Bristol Rovers (A) - 7.45pm Wednesday July 20
Friendly v FC Nantes (At Stade Leo Lagrange, Saint Nazaire) - Saturday July 23
Friendly v Cambridge United (A) - 7.30pm Tuesday July 26
Friendly v Middlesbrough (H) - 3pm Saturday July 30
Villa will spend five days in Austria preparing for the stream of July fixtures which include two headline games against FC Nantes (Jordan Veretout's old team) and newly promoted Middlesbrough at Villa Park.
Interestingly enough, Villa will trot out two separate sides on the same day to face Telford and Worcester respectively.
This release all but seems to confirm that Villa will appoint a new manager very soon.