Former Aston Villa striker Peter Withe has offered to help the club out "for nothing" as they begin their search for a successor to Paul Lambert today.

The Scot was dismissed as manager of the West Midlands outfit last night following a poor run of results in the Premier League which has seen the Villans drop into the relegation zone.

Tuesday night's 2-0 reverse at fellow strugglers Hull City proved to be the last straw for Villa chiefs, who are said to have brought down the axe on Lambert's troubled two-and-a-half-year spell by offering to pay him £10m in compensation.

Tim Sherwood was immediately installed as favourite to land the Villa Park job, although Withe has hinted that he would be interested in taking up the role.

"I will help them for nothing," he is quoted as saying by BT Sport. "I think they've got to get someone who has a feel for the club and can bring the fans back and also just inspire the players a little bit."

The 1982 European Cup winner also put his name in the hat following Lambert's appointment in the summer of 2010.