Mikey Burrows
BBC WM Sport

David Wagner

Born in Germany but with an American father he earned eight caps for the USA in a career that saw him play for Schalke and Mainz amongst others. 

The 44-year-old was part of Jurgen Klopp's backroom staff at Borussia Dortmund and was expected to join him at Liverpool but took over in Yorkshire instead. 

He's won 18 of 44 games in charge, including eight of 11 this season as Huddersfield lead the Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

A car that carried a teenager on the bonnet for several metres in a hit-and-run crash had earlier failed to stop for police officers, West Midlands Police says, external.

The 17-year-old sustained a head wound and dislocated shoulder when he was struck by a Ford Fiesta at about 19:25 on Sunday, 25 September.

Following the crash in Wordsworth Road, Small Heath, two men fled the scene on foot along Waverley Road.

Appealing for witnesses, police today said the injured teenager was "well on the way to making a full recovery".

Mikey Burrows
BBC WM Sport

Lee Johnson 

At the moment, he manages Bristol City and is one of the youngest managers in the game at 35 years old.

Johnson was a midfielder for most notably Yeovil and Bristol City under his dad Gary, taking over at Oldham aged just 31, saving them from relegation and beating his father's team who were chasing promotion at the time. 

Johnson moved on to Barnsley in 2015 and impressed enough to be appointed by old club Bristol City a year later, where he won seven of the final 16 games to secure survival in the Championship. 

This season his team beat Villa 3-1.

Birmingham Mail

The railway line between Bromsgrove and Birmingham is to be closed for nearly two weeks, external in October.  

By the time Roberto Di Matteo was appointed in June this year, Aston Villa had been relegated from the top flight of English football for the first time in nearly 30 years.

But a new manager, a new chairman and a spend of £50m on players meant there was at least hope of brighter days ahead.

Then the season began, with Di Matteo's record being little better than that of the caretaker manager under whom the club went down.

15/16 - Eric Black: 65 days: P7 - W0, D1, L6 

16/17 - Di Matteo: 124 days: P12 - W1, D7, L4 

Aston Villa lie 19th in the Championship as Di Matteo's assistant Steve Clarke takes over as caretaker.

Since Martin O'Neill quit on the eve of the season in August 2010, Villa have had six different "permanent" managers and four caretaker bosses.  

Aston Villa has sacked manager Roberto Di Matteo - after just 11 league games in charge. 

The Italian won just one of them and leaves the club 19th in the Championship. 

Villa legend Nigel Spink told BBC WM the type of character Villa need in the dugout.

Image source, Getty Images

Monica Rimmer
Journalist, BBC Online

What do you make of Roberto Di Matteo's departure? 

Are you happy to see him go or should he have been given longer to turn around a record that saw Villa win just once in his 12 games in charge.

Join the debate on our Facebook page, external, tweet us, external or email us your thoughts. 

Image source, Getty Images

Conservative West Midlands mayoral candidate Andy Street says the race is "once in a generation opportunity" to lead the region.

The outgoing chief executive of John Lewis told Westminster Hour reporter Sam Macrory he had the leadership skills required for the mayoralty after being the "front-man of a big business".

Aston Villa manager Roberto di Matteo has been sacked just 124 days after taking over at the Championship club.

Following Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Preston North End, Roberto Di Matteo - sacked by Aston Villa this morning - said it was "part of our job" to have results questioned.

"It's normal that when the results of the team aren't what you expect, the results will be questioned."

Image source, Getty Images

He added following the game: "We will keep working. I have faith in the team, I believe in the team and I think that, come the end of the season, they will be up there."

If that is true, it will be without the Italian who has been dismissed after just 12 games. 

Mikey Burrows
BBC WM Sport

Steve Bruce

Currently a free agent, the 55-year-old is a Premier League winner as captain of Man United. Bruce played for and then managed Birmingham City, twice winning promotion to the Premier League before spells with Wigan and Sunderland. He also won EPL promotion with Hull before subsequent relegation. 

Image source, Getty Images

He left Hull in the summer after securing promotion and is said to still have property in the Midlands.

As a boyhood Newcastle fan who managed rivals Sunderland, the former Blues man probably won't be fazed by crossing the city divide.  

Aston Villa are looking for another manager. As the search gets under way, there's a packed fixture list ahead, including the Blues derby. 

15 Oct v Wolves (H)

18 Oct v Reading (A)

22 Oct v Fulham (H)

30 Oct v Birmingham (A)

Steve Clarke, Di Matteo's assistant since June, is caretaker boss.

BBC Midlands Today

The mother of Stephen Sutton, the Staffordshire teenager who publicly charted his battle with cancer, will begin climbing Mount Kilimanjaro today for charity, external.

Jane Sutton, who's an ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust, is hoping to continue her son's legacy - he raised millions of pounds. 

She began training for the expedition in March and says it'll be the toughest physical challenge of her life. 

It involves hiking for around five hours a day with the aim of reaching the summit on Sunday. , external

Mikey Burrows
BBC WM Sport

Aston Villa Football Club have sacked manager Roberto Di Matteo. 

Villa say it follows a run of "disappointing results".

Here's how he ended up with the sack: 

• 12 games in charge: 11 league, one cup 
• Won one, 3-0 v Rotherham, 13 August
• Drew seven
• Lost four
• Nine games without a win
• In five of 11 league games, Villa conceded a goal after 85 minutes
• Signed nine players this summer for a combined outlay of around £50m

Steve Bruce and Mick McCarthy are among the early favourites to replace Roberto Di Matteo - sacked by Aston Villa this morning.

Former Walsall manager Dean Smith, now in charge at Brentford, has already dismissed speculation about taking charge of the club he supported as a boy.

Aston Villa are looking for their fifth boss inside a year after sacking Roberto Di Matteo, who won just one of 11 Championship games in charge of the club.  

The sacking follows Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Preston - a match in which Villa were booed off by their fans.  

Steve Clarke will take over as caretaker manager during the search for a new boss, Aston Villa says.  

Image source, Getty Images

Villa say manager Roberto Di Matteo has been sacked following a run of "disappointing results".

Here's the club's statement...

Aston Villa Football Club has today parted company, external with manager Roberto Di Matteo, the club says in a statement.  

BBC Weather Watchers

What a gorgeous picture to start off the week. 

BBC Weather Watcher PJ has sent in this stunning picture from Badger, near Wolverhampton. 

The temperature was just 3C (37F) when the picture was taken. 

Image source, PJ's

If you've got a picture you'd like to share, you can sign up to become a BBC Weather Watcher here.