Aston Villa seek quick appointment of new manager
English Premier League side Aston Villa are seeking a quick appointment for their vacant manager’s chair after Martin O’Neill’s abrupt departure this week. It is understood that the club are looking to have a successor to the Irishman in place by next week, before the team’s second game of the new EPL season.
Club owner Randy Lerner has been preparing a list of his ideal appointments and will be looking to hold talks with those candidates this week. Former Manchester City and England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is said to be keen on the role, while former Villa player and ex- Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is also reportedly interested. Other names that have been linked with the job include United States coach Bob Bradley, Ajax manager Martin Jol and Jurgen Klinsmann.
Keen for European role
When asked about the prospect of taking over at Villa Bradley, whose deal with the US concludes at the end of the year, said that he would be keen to take up a job in Europe. He told reporters that: "I have said over and over as well that I am always excited about new and different challenges. Certainly coaching in Europe at some point is something that I would love to do."
O’Neill is believed to have resigned after becoming disillusioned with the club’s transfer policy. A sell-to-buy procedure has been put in place by Lerner and it has been reported that after learning that he will not be able to use most of the money the club will receive from James Milner’s impending departure to Manchester City, the Irishman felt that he could take the club no further and opted to resign.
Kevin MacDonald, who coached the club’s reserve team to success over the last few seasons, has been named caretaker manager, but a permanent replacement for O’Neill appears to be arriving imminently.
Villa begin their EPL season with a match at home against West Ham United this weekend, and head north to play Newcastle United the following weekend. In between is a crucial UEFA Europa League play-off match against Rapid Vienna and it remains to be seen if a new manager will be in place to take charge of the team for their European tie.
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