Aston Villa legend Tony Morley has questioned whether Tim Sherwood can handle the job.
Sherwood was named new manager of Villa yesterday.
Morley told the Daily Star Sunday: "I know why the club decided they had to act.
"The fans had turned on Paul, who I have great respect for, and after losing at Hull on Tuesday - a game I was at - it was clear something would be done.
"To go down now - with hundreds of millions coming from the next TV deal which begins in 2016 - would be an even greater disaster than when Villa were relegated in 1986-87.
"It would be much harder to get back up now than it was back then.
"But what happens in the remaining league matches this season, starting with the visit of Stoke next Saturday, is the major question.
"I'm not saying Tim Sherwood won't be a great manager in a few years - but Villa only have a few months.
"He is a massive gamble.
"If Ron Atkinson was ten years younger, he would be perfect, or so would a younger Harry Redknapp.
"But these types of guys aren't around.
"That's why this appointment is by far the most important that owner Randy Lerner and his board will ever have made."
