Wednesday 16 March 2016 11:05, UK
Aston Villa sporting director, Hendrik Almstadt, has left the club by "mutual consent with immediate effect".
Villa are bottom of the Premier League and nine points from safety with just eight games remaining.
The German leaves Villa less than a year after joining the club from Arsenal, where he had worked for four years alongside the chief executive and manager.
Almstadt's transfer activity has come under increased scrutiny and criticism, following the club's dismal showing in the Premier League this season, with the team picking up just 16 points from 30 matches.
A brief statement on the club's website confirmed the departure and added they would "conduct a thorough recruitment process to find a replacement".
The statement reads read: "Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that sporting director, Hendrik Almstadt, has left the club by mutual consent with immediate effect.
"As part of the board's continuing assessment of (the set-up at the) Bodymoor Heath (training ground) it intends to conduct a thorough recruitment process to find a replacement."
The 40-year old became the club's first-ever sporting director when he arrived in July, where had also worked alongside Villa chief executive Tom Fox, who was then Arsenal's chief operating officer.
Chairman Steve Hollis, who was appointed in January, has been conducting an internal review at the club with Villa set to be relegated from the top flight for the first time since 1987.
Former FA chairman David Bernstein joined the board last week while ex-Villa manager Brian Little has been appointed as an advisor. Mervyn King, the former governor of the Bank of England, is also now on the board.
The club remains up for sale with owner Randy Lerner, who is based in the United States, stepping aside as chairman for Hollis at the start of the year.
Villa are nine points from safety in the Premier League, having won just three times this season, and go to Swansea on Saturday.
