text: Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has offered encouragement to a six-year-old fan he beat to the job. Charlie Pye, from Leamington Spa, applied for the Villa hotseat after Paul Lambert was sacked in February. The Villa fan wanted a chocolate bar as a win bonus and would have agreed terms for a signed claret and blue football, a WWE wrestling figure and some sweets. Sherwood wrote Charlie a letter congratulating him on his credentials, despite missing out on the job. Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood (centre) showed his softer side by replying to 6-year-old Charlie Pye . He wrote: 'From your letter it is clear to see that you would indeed be an ideal candidate for the job due to your knowledge of the game - and your very capable backroom staff, of course! 'Hopefully you're not too disappointed at missing out and I'm informed that I just managed to pip you to the post so you were very close to being offered the job. 'Our chief executive Tom Fox has informed me that the club would like your permission to keep the letter on file 'just in case' - although I'm hoping I will be successful at this great football club. The youngster applied for the role when Paul Lambert was sacked but was pipped to the post by Sherwood . 'I will certainly be aiming to make you and all the other supporters happy. 'In terms of your football career, I want to wish Norton Lindsey every success this season. Well done on being appointed captain. I was a captain during my own playing career - it's a special honour.' Sherwood has guided Villa six points above the relegation zone in the Barclays Premier League after Saturday's 1-0 win at former club Tottenham and taken them to Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. Charlie had written to chief executive Tom Fox after Lambert was sacked with Villa in the relegation zone earlier this year. Pye is captain of Norton Lindsey and got a special message from Sherwood about being a captain . He wrote: 'I would appoint my mum and dad as assistant managers so they can drive me to the training ground each day. My mum is also very good at making bacon sandwiches for the players if that helps.' Charlie told the club's official site: 'I never expected a letter from the manager but I was absolutely delighted to get one. 'What he wrote was brilliant - it meant a lot to me. Even the stuff about congratulating me on being a captain was really special.' The 6-year-old would have appointed his parents as assistant managers if he had been offered the dream job .
target: Tim Sherwood took time to reply to Aston Villa fan Charlie Pye .
  The 6-year-old applied for the Villa job when Paul Lambert was sacked .
  The youngster wanted his mum and dad to be assistant managers .
  Sherwood admitted that he just pipped Pye to the post for the hotseat .
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