Ex-Newcastle United manager John Carver applies for Aston Villa job

Former Newcastle United boss John Carver has applied for the vacant managerial position at Aston Villa.

The 51-year-old is ready to return to management having not found a new job since being let go by hometown club Newcastle last summer.

Villa, who are all but relegated from the top flight, are without a manager after Remi Garde's departure last month.

"I have [applied] yes, via my agent," Carver told BBC Radio 5 live. "I haven't heard anything yet, though.

"I think whatever they do, they have to do it reasonably quickly to get a steal on everybody else."

Carver won just three of his 20 games in charge of Newcastle last season and was not kept on in the summer, ending a long association with the St James' Park outfit.

David Moyes and Nigel Pearson are the two frontrunners with the bookmakers to land the Villa job.