Remi Garde is Aston Villa's first choice to become new manager

Aston Villa's top managerial target Remi Garde has pulled out of his French media duties with Canal+ this weekend.

Garde, who Sky sources understand has been in discussions over succeeding Tim Sherwood at Villa Park, was due to be a pundit for Chelsea's game against Liverpool on Saturday but he has told the channel he is unavailable.

However, talks to bring in the former Lyon boss have hit a stumbling block after he insisted on bringing two members of his old backroom staff - former assistant Gerald Baticle and coach Bruno Genesio - with him to the Midlands.

Both Baticle and Genesio are still at Lyon and the Ligue 1 club have said they will not be allowed to leave.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas told Le Progres: "Remi, I hope, will go to Aston Villa, he deserves a big English club.

"But an assistant under contract cannot leave. And anyway, a deputy cannot ask that."

Should he eventually take over, Garde would have a considerable task on his hands to arrest Villa's dismal run of seven straight defeats in the Premier League.

Former Villa defender Steve Staunton has told Sky Sports News HQ that it has been "getting worse and worse" at the club every year and has questioned their recruitment methods.

"It's very hard to blame anybody but players come into clubs all the time. I find it hard to hear that any manager wouldn't have the final say," he said.

If you keep selling your best players and buying in others to experiment with then you're asking for trouble. Steve Staunton

"We all know there are players available but you've got two or three options because other clubs are looking at the same players. So whether it's first, second or third on the list, we don't know.

"If you look at the last few years, it looks to be getting worse and worse. If you keep selling your best players and buying in others to experiment with then you're asking for trouble.

"It's going to take you at least six to 12 months to settle, whether you're a youngster or a full international, but Villa don't have that time."