Alex McLeish Confirmed As Villa Manager

Aston Villa have today confirmed that Alex McLeish has become their new manager, the Scot resigned as manager of Birmingham last week and following a verbal row between the two clubs it has now been agreed The 52-year-old will now take charge at Villa Park.

Aston Villa was forced to pay Birmingham City £2m compensation to get their man and although Villa fans had voiced their disappointment at approaching McLeish, Villa owner Randy Lerner was determined to get him.

"I am honoured to have this opportunity to manage a club with such a fantastic history as Aston Villa's," McLeish said.

"The heritage, the history of success and the tradition of Aston Villa are compelling and irresistible. The challenge for me is to try to add my own chapter.

"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man"

"Since first becoming a manager at Motherwell, my desire to succeed and my energy and drive have never waned. My objective is to impart that drive and will to win to the players and fans of Aston Villa.

"I know that some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why. It will be up to me to convince you that I am the right man to drive the Club forward and I intend to give absolutely everything to prove that I can be a success at the Club."

Birmingham City Accuse Aston Villa Of Foul Play

Birmingham City has accused Aston Villa of tapping up former manager Alex McLeish, the bitter rivals are at war and Birmingham owners have insisted that will lodge a formal complaint.

The League Managers' Association has said that McLeish quit over a lack of consultation regarding transfers and the sacking of his former chief scout at St Andrews.

The Blues who was relegated from the Premier League last season have refused to accept McLeish’s resignation while the Scot feels he is not being treated fairly, Villa announced on Tuesday night that they were to interview the Scot 'imminently' because they considered him a free agent after he quit Birmingham at the weekend.

"The club feel this will taint football and give the game and the footballing authorities a bad name if this is allowed to materialise. The club will do what is within its powers to prevent this and will lodge a formal complaint to the authorities tomorrow as there is now not the slightest doubt remaining about this tap up attempt.

"Birmingham City FC stresses that this conduct, if condoned, will open up flood gates and set a very bad precedent. This is also an attack against the intelligence and integrity of not only the Villa fans, but most importantly our fans who are badly let down after having just been relegated.

"It is definitely a bitter pill to swallow for all fans concerned, both here and across the city. Never have the two clubs seen such a strong unity between their rival fans and this unity is based on humility and integrity and what is right and fair.

"The LMA's announcement today is refuted as the club has a very rigid approval system where only players formally identified, and with approval forms signed and sanctioned by the manager personally are brought in. The chief scout was sacked only after Mr. McLeish was informed who at that time had chosen not to comment.

"The allegations against the club, president Carson Yeung and the board are frivolous excuses and without foundation.

"The matter is now with Birmingham City FC's lawyers and no further comments will be made."  

Gerard Houllier To Leave Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier is expected to leave Aston Villa shortly, he took over only in September but has since experienced health problems that saw him hospitalised towards the end of the season with Gary McAllister take over the helm during Houllier’s absence.

BBC Radio 5 live's Pat Murphy said: "The decision will be in the interests of Aston Villa, not Houllier.

"The delay may be over severance pay. Houllier still has two years left on a contract worth more than £2m a year."

Murphy added: "Houllier and his management team have remained bullish about his prospects of returning to work but a final round of medical tests late last week would have taken the decision out of Houllier's hands."

Medical test results have been studied by the club's owner Randy Lerner and medical staff. Houllier missed the final month of last season because of his heart problems.

Darren Bent Hands In Transfer Request

Darren Bent has today rocked Sunderland when the club confirmed that he has handed in a transfer request after Aston Villa reportedly made an offer of £18 million for the striker, the England international travelled to Birmingham today for a medical and to agree personal terms with a move that would smash Villa's transfer record.

Bent, 26, joined the Black Cats for an initial £10m from Tottenham in August 2009 when he signed a four-year deal with the north-east. This will leave a big void in Steve Bruce’s attacking options, Bent scored 25 times last season and has hit the net eleven times so far in the current campaign helping the club to sixth place in the Premier League standings.

Martin O'Neill resigns

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has resigned as manager, O'Neill's patience have finally run out after being told that he will now have access to funds that will be received from the sale of James Milner to Manchester City which is due to be completed this week. O'Neill had been at the helm for four years with Villa, steadly building up his team each season but with being told he will not have access to funds to improve the squad and with five days before the start of the season this will come as a big blow for the fans.

But it now seems that Villa are selling off their best players with Gareth Barry leaving for Manchester City last season and both James Milner and Ashley Young look likey to be on their way out with Tottenham leading the chase for Young, Chairman Randy Lerner will be flying back to the UK today to hold a meeting with the first team players hoping to convince the players to stay. Martin O'Neill has always been a man about principle so it is safe to assume that he did not walk out on Aston Villa because he was not offered a pay rise.


Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has been installed as bookies favourite to take over at Villa and Eriksson as always expressed his desire to return to the Premier League.Sven currently not in charge of a club after leaving his post as Ivory Coast manager after the World Cup could be tempted to join Villa.

Sources close to the 62-year-old said: "Of course, Sven would be interested in this job.

"He has always said that he would like to go back into the Premier League. It is a big target for him."