Garde: I'll stay at Villa if we're relegated

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde plans to stay with the club if they are relegated from the Premier League this season.

The Midlands side are rooted to the bottom of the table after 19 matches, 11 points adrift of safety, with the arrival of Garde yet to produce a victory in eight matches.

Garde replaced Tim Sherwood on a three-and-a-half year deal in November but the threat of relegation from England's top flight for the first time since 1987 looms large.

Yet the former Lyon boss does not intend to walk away if Villa are sent down to the Championship.

When asked if he would stay if the club were relegated, he told a news conference: "Yes.

"I have got a very good feeling in my mind. In every football club there are some difficulties and problems.

"Of course I thought we would have won earlier, but I knew when you come to a club that has played 11 and lost nine you don't expect to find everything going well. If they are, you do not get the call to come in.

"I knew it would be difficult but now I am full of confidence for what we can achieve in this club."