Tim Sherwood: Villa boss has a fan in Charlie Pye

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has offered encouragement to the six-year-old fan he pipped to the job earlier this year.

Charlie Pye, from Leamington Spa, applied for the Villa hotseat after Paul Lambert was sacked in February and Sherwood congratulated him on his impressive credentials, including being named captain of his team.

The Villa fan was looking for a chocolate bar as a win bonus, and would have liked to have been paid for taking over with a signed football, a WWE wrestling figure and sweets as well as appoint his mum and dad as assistants.

Sherwood wrote: "From your letter it is clear to see that you would indeed be an ideal candidate for the job due to your knowledge of the game - and your very capable backroom staff, of course!

"Hopefully you're not too disappointed at missing out and I'm informed that I just managed to pip you to the post so you were very close to being offered the job.

"Our chief executive Tom Fox has informed me that the club would like your permission to keep the letter on file 'just in case' - although I'm hoping I will be successful at this great football club.

"I will certainly be aiming to make you and all the other supporters happy.

"In terms of your football career, I want to wish Norton Lindsey every success this season. Well done on being appointed captain. I was a captain during my own playing career - it's a special honour."

Charlie told the club's official website: "I never expected a letter from the manager but I was absolutely delighted to get one.

"What he wrote was brilliant - it meant a lot to me. Even the stuff about congratulating me on being a captain was really special."