New Aston Villa director David Bernstein has warned that the club must be cautious of thinking only in the short term if they are relegated from the Premier League.
The Birmingham side are on the verge of being confirmed as a second-tier club for the first time in 26 years as they lie 12 points from safety with only eight games to go.
Former Football Association chairman Bernstein was recently appointed to Villa's board by owner Randy Lerner and charged with conducting a full review of the club's failings and implementing a plan to restore progress.
"If we are thinking short-term or long-term, then it has to be a little bit of both," Bernstein told Sky Sports News. "If we do go down then clearly there is a big incentive to get back quickly, for obvious reasons, including the parachute payment in years one and two reducing, and not in year three.
"There is a big financial incentive but, on top of everything else, if the fans heard anything else other than, 'We are desperate to get back at the first opportunity' then they would be very disappointed.
"We have to mix sensible short-term thinking and long-term planning. We can't be too short-termist, but on the other hand we can't be thinking five years ahead because a lot will happen in the next year or two."
Remi Garde is currently in charge of the playing squad but could reportedly be relieved of his duties in the coming days.
Pascal Lemesre
