I’m the headmaster now, insists new Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood

Tim Sherwood insists he is the now the "headmaster" at Aston Villa and admits he will give the players some brutal honesty if they fail to perform.

The 46-year-old replaced Paul Lambert on Saturday and has been charged with saving Villa from the Premier League drop.

Sherwood likened himself to a “supply teacher” at the end of the 2013-14 season when he was at Tottenham because the players did not expect him to last the summer.

He was eventually replaced by Mauricio Pochettino but believes his position will be more stable at Villa Park.

“I’m the headmaster now,” he joked. “I was sitting at every press conference and I kept getting told ‘this man wants your job’ and ‘that man’s been spoken to.’

“It was every week. I dealt with it and got on with the job. It was difficult. What was I going to do? Roll in the corner and die?

“I’m not going to do that, I’m a fighter. I’ll fight until the bitter end.”

Sherwood has not managed since leaving Spurs last May, with his last game in charge a 3-0 win over Villa at White Hart Lane.

He watched their 2-1 FA Cup win over Leicester on Sunday, with his first game officially in charge being Saturday’s visit of Stoke.

Villa are third from bottom in the table having won just twice in their last 21 league games and Sherwood insisted if the players fail to pull their weight he will tell them.

“One thing I can guarantee, if I’m going to be guilty of something it will be being honest,” he said.

“If they do well they will be told, if they don’t do well they will also be told and told why. You have to be constructive.

“It can’t be because of a referee’s decision or if someone scores a 40-yarder and then everyone’s crap. That ain’t the case.

“You have to talk to them. Some people might have played well and need to be patted on the back. Some people need a kick up the backside at the right time and I need to be that person to be able to do that.”

Sherwood also wants to revitalise Christian Benteke after the striker’s drop in form this season. He has netted just three times this term after recovering from an Achilles injury.

The ex-England midfielder revived Emmanuel Adebayor at Spurs after the striker’s career in north London stalled and he hopes to do the same with Benteke.

“It is bringing that player back to life and also enhancing what is around him. Everyone has to recognise that,” said Sherwood.

“Yes, it was the case with Ade and, yes, it could possibly be the case with Christian and we hope it will be.

“We know what a threat he will be.”

And Sherwood admitted Tottenham would have been interested in Benteke while he was at the club.

He added: “I’m sure Tottenham were interested in him, they look at all the top players all over Europe and the world.”