London, Mar 30 (IANS): Relegation threatened English football club Aston Villa has announced that coach Remi Garde has left after less than five months in the job.

"Manager Remi Garde has today left Aston Villa Football Club by mutual consent," the Birmingham-based team said in a statement on Tuesday, reports Efe.

"The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Remi for all his efforts during a difficult period and wish him well in the future," Aston Villa said, adding that assistant Eric Black will take charge of the side pending the appointment of a new manager.

Garde, a 49-year-old former French international who was part of the Arsenal team that won the English Premier League in 1998, joined Aston Villa on November 2, replacing Tim Sherwood at the helm of the last-place squad.

The side has won only two league matches under Garde. With 16 points from 31 matches, Aston Villa is 12 points from safety with seven matches left in the season.