Gary Karsa joined Villa as head of football operations on the eve of pre-season training in July 2012.

Before that, he had the same role at the Canaries.

Karsa follows his management colleagues Paul Lambert and Ian Culverhouse with whom he has worked previously at Colchester United, Wycombe Wanderers and Norwich City.

He held the position of football operations manager at The U's since he joined them from Adams Park in October 2008, where he'd been head of youth since September 2006.

Karsa began his coaching career at Enfield in 1998 as football and community officer, before moving to Barnet where he first worked with Ian Culverhouse.

After a spell as Charlton's Head of Academy he linked up with Culverhouse again at Leyton Orient as head of youth.