Former Liverpool manager Roy Evans and ex-Inter Milan and Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson will be among those considered for a permanent appointment, along with Louis van Gaal, who was falsely linked with Villa at the weekend. George Graham will not be among the candidates. Ravanelli was expected back tomorrow before the build-up to Saturday's crucial relegation home game with Ipswich.
Todd's three-month spell in charge, moving up from No.2 after Jim Smith's departure, was put under scrutiny at Wednesday's board meeting when serious doubts were raised about his motivational powers and transfer judgment.
Despite financial strictures Todd was allowed to spend £4million but the club kept sliding. The £3m splashed out on French full back Francois Grenet looked especially wasteful as the player endured a nightmare game against Bristol Rovers and was sent off in the first-half against Villa for a reckless tackle on Lee Hendrie.
Villa's victory, fashioned by first-half goals from Darius Vassell and Juan Pablo Angel, hoisted Derby's Midlands rivals into seventh place in the Premiership and eased the pressure on their manager John Gregory. Derby's only joy came when Darryl Powell equalised Vassell's opener.
