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Remi Garde is glad there are no 'football people' on the board at Aston Villa - because it avoids interference from those who think they know better.

There are concerns from some supporters that the powers-that-be at Villa lack knowledge and experience of the game and new chairman Steve Hollis admits he is not a football person.

But Garde insists he prefers it that way because it allows him to take charge of the football side of things, while the board look after the club's finances.

Asked if he wished there were football people on the board at Villa, Garde replied: "To be fair not really.

"The most important thing is in the football part you have people who know football – I think I know football a little bit.

"For policy for the future of the club it's better to have people who know about finance.

"It's much more important than having people who could think that they know football and giving advice to people who know football.

"I think to be well structured we need people with the skills that their position requires."

Mat Kendrick on Remi Garde's press conference