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Aston Villa have launched a full-scale investigation into their catastrophic season.

New chairman Steve Hollis and boardroom recruit Sir Mervyn King are conducting an in-depth probe into the club’s affairs.

Consultants have been brought in to pick through the rubble of Villa’s dreadful campaign and the finances, recruitment processes and day-to-day administration are all coming under scrutiny.

And that could spell bad news for several senior staff with chief executive Tom Fox most likely to be in the firing line.

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Arsenal’s former commercial officer has been in situ at Villa Park since August 2014 and has acted as the eyes and ears for absentee owner Randy Lerner.

But the awful state of affairs has prompted a roots and branch review and Fox himself – appointed on a £1m-a-year salary – could be the first casualty.

The American was the target of fans’ anger last week as Villa slumped to their worst home defeat in over 80 years in the six-goal thumping by Liverpool.

(Image: Neville Williams)

However, all decisions on Villa’s senior management will be delayed until the end of the season with the positions of sporting director Hendrik Almstadt and head of recruitment Paddy Riley also coming under the microscope.

With manager Remi Garde likely to consider his position at the end of the season there could be a complete overhaul of Villa’s hierarchy as they begin to re-build the former European Champions.