Stan Collymore claims Alex McLeish has texted him to say his "time's up" at Aston Villa.
McLeish is reportedly facing the axe on Monday as he prepares to discuss a season of underachievement with club owner Randy Lerner.
Lerner has flown in from the United States to speak with McLeish along with chief executive Paul Faulkner in the aftermath of Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Norwich, which was described as "woeful" by the manager.
According to reports in the Express & Star and the Birmingham Mail, McLeish will be shown the door at Villa Park later on Monday,
Sections of fans again called for the former Birmingham boss to be axed as Villa ended the campaign just two points clear of the bottom three.
McLeish has had to contend with slashing the wage bill, which he described as "astronomical", and has been deprived of several key players through injury or illness.
The likes of record signing Darren Bent, key defender Richard Dunne and skipper Stiliyan Petrov have been sidelined for lengthy spells and McLeish has had to put the accent on youth.
McLeish always stressed it would be a season of transition after replacing Gerard Houllier last summer, but it was still a surprise that Villa only made sure of survival last weekend.
Their tally of 38 points in finishing 16th is actually one less than when McLeish was relegated with Birmingham last campaign.
Villa have also encountered their worst season in their history in terms of their home record in registering just four wins.
McLeish insisted after the 2-0 defeat at Carrow Road he was still the right man for the job and was aiming to rebuild the side.
But his future now depends on whether Lerner decides it is time to search for a fourth manager in less than two years or takes into account the difficult conditions McLeish has worked under.
Martin O'Neill quit in the summer of 2010 and Houllier had to leave Villa last summer on health grounds, which led to McLeish's controversial appointment after leaving Blues.
what do you think?
Richard McMahon
Michael, Whilst a i agree AM had a hard job due to the loss of some key players and yes you have to blame the board also for the wage cuts and so on but to say AM is one of the best managers in the country is totally hillarious. AM showed with Blues last season he can not manage a Prem League team. Blues were to good to go down and it was due to AMs style of play that sent them down and nearly Villa too.
Michael Cooke
I think he was reffering to O'Neill as one of the best managers not Mcliesh
Brian Mckeown
Poor manager, more used to dealing with the sub standard football in the North, ie Scotland. Villa have under-achieved all season.
Adam Sperrink
McLeish should never have become villa manager, I think its time we also looked at the person who put him in the job ! Learner has to listen to the supporters, he must be feeling it in his pocket, we are at least 10,000 people short at every home game compared to when Martin was the manager, Randy you need to put in someone who is passionate about the Villa, we have a good team of players who need pointing in the right direction, I am a villa season ticket holder and I am not renewing it until changes are made, we need money to add to the squad we are no better now that when deadly Doug was holding the purse strings!
Steve Pendry
What must Doug Ellis be thinking now! He had his bad points but the Villa never had these problems when he was owner. I don't think its all down to AM, but the Villa will never be the club they were 15 or so years ago. The trouble with football nowadays is down to money.
Bethany Venross
As a loyal Bluenose, I think that the Villa truly deserve Alex McLeish, in fact see it as gift from us to you!!!!!
Peter Farris
Only one word for you-BLACKPOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MichaelStinton
9:08am on 14/5/2012
McLeish was probably the wrong man but Villa's position is not down to him. Look at the facts, less than 3 years ago we had a rapidly improving side within touching distance of the top 4. Since then Villa have sold 4 current Engand internationals, 3 of them to top 4 sides and several other develloping players. They have let go one of the best managers in the country and have replaced neither the departing players nor the manager with similar quality. Players and managers often say when leaving a club that it was because of "a lack of ambition". In this case they were absolutely spot on. Blame lies fairly and squarley with the owner in particular and his Board of Directors. They all made unfulfilled promises. Aston Villa deserves better!