Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is under huge pressure to keep hold of his job.
Even Villa stay up, says the Sunday Mirror, Houllier could still be shown the door.
Despite being given a dreaded vote of confidence by the Villa board last week with eight games remaining, Houllier's brief and unspectacular reign at the club looks increasingly certain come to an end. Villa's decision not to act sooner looks questionable, as the Frenchman has lost the support of some influential players in the dressing room.
Large sections of the Villa fan base are also disillusioned with their experienced French manager at a time when unity is the key to survival.
Houllier's appointment as the eventual successor to Martin O'Neill, who left the club a week before the start of the campaign, was hardly an inspired choice as far as many supporters were concerned.
The subsequent uprising by players, who are fed up with his training regime of French fitness coach Robert Duverne has inevitably led to growing speculation his tenure will come to an end.
Seemingly waiting in the wings are former Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce and another former Liverpool boss, Rafa Benitez.
