Aston Villa don't see former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino as a realistic option as their new manager, according to reliable journalist Ashley Preece.

The Lowdown: Pochettino linked with job

The 50-year-old is one of a host of names to have been linked with taking charge at Villa Park, following the deserved sacking of Steven Gerrard earlier in the week.

Pochettino is without a club currently, having left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season, and he appears to be keen on finding a new job.

It looks as though the Argentine won't be heading to Villa, however, following a fresh update from a trusted source.

The Latest: Preece pours cold water on rumour

Writing in a Q&A for The Birmingham Mail, Preece confirmed that Pochettino is not interested in becoming the Villans' new manager:

"NSWE determined to get Villa back on track and will go all out to make sure the next appointment is the right one. Is Poch realistic? No. I believe he’s not interested at this stage."

The Verdict: Never felt likely

In truth, Pochettino has always felt like an overly ambitious appointment for Villa, considering the calibre of clubs he has managed in the past.

The ex-PSG boss will want to be at a club playing Champions League football and battling for big honours, which is something that Villa sadly can't offer at the moment.

Should Pochettino's stance suddenly change, NSWE would be mad not to bring him in, though, with none other than Pep Guardiola once describing him as an 'excellent' manager.