Aston Villa manager Remi Garde looks on during the Premier League match with Manchester City at Etihad Stadium

Remi Garde was positioned as a "sacrificial lamb" and "has been slaughtered for it" by Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner, according to a protest group.

The group behind 'Out The Door on 74', which encouraged Villa supporters to vote with their feet and leave the last two home matches after 74 minutes - symbolic of the club's formation in 1874 - believe the American's lack of investment, and not the manager, is to blame for the club's predicament.

Garde departed as manager by mutual consent on Tuesday night with Villa on the brink of being relegated after 29 years in the top flight.

After only 147 day in charge, the 49-year-old Frenchman left the club following six successive defeats which left Villa 12 points from safety with seven games to play.

The group's statement read: "He [Garde] was hung out to dry by Mr Lerner. The January window slammed shut with zero investment provided, not a single player joined a squad that had finally shown some mettle but was still woefully short of both consistent quality and numbers.

Villa fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with owner Randy Lerner

"Whatever promises had been made to the manager, whatever token efforts were made, he was positioned as the sacrificial lamb and he has been slaughtered for it.

"How many more times must we cycle through managers, players and board members before Mr Lerner finds the winning combination? In our view, he has had long enough."

The 'Out The Door On 74' campaign is set to continue when Villa, bottom of the table and 12 points from safety, resume Premier League action at home to Chelsea on Saturday.