Official - Houllier leaves by mutual consent (p.28)

[nick harper]

double post

[mallo]

It's been an odd tenure at best, but I hope he's well. Not too sure about Benitez but realistically there aren't too many better qualified managers who would want to come. Maybe Hiddinck prefers balti to jellied eels?

[tom villa]

its bit of a shame i was lookin forward to geting new players in the summer.

[Mr Diggles]

Sad news both for houllier and the club given that we were both heading in the right direction towards the end of the season. I hope the board can make a decision of who to appoint and quickly. Let's also hope we don't have another season of transition.

[wozwebs]

The timing is also about season ticket sales for me, a lot of people were having 2nd thoughts about renewing so a new 'big name' manager comes in before our deadlines.

[TRO]

Another lesson for the board - Twitter is faster than newspaper exclusives scheduled 12 hours later.

[SheffieldVillain]

Well, bye Gerard. Best wishes for the future.

SkyBet showing the following as top bets:
Hughes (1/1), Benitez (11/8), Moyes (3/1), McClaren (7/1), Ancelotti (10/1), Jol (14/1), Allardyce (14/1), Macdonald (16/1), Zola (20/1)

No to Hughes, Benitez, Allardyce, Zola or sadly Kevin Mac from me.
My top choice would be Moyes, although Ancelotti or Jol wouldn't be bad news. Martinez as an outsider.

[villajk]

If true, shame in some ways*, I would have liked to see what he could have achieved in the long term.  All the best Gerrard.

* did not think this after the wolves game.

[Jimbo]

The right decision, if true. The new man will have time and funds at his disposal to begin shaping a team that should get us back on track. There's no reason why we should expect a 'transitional season', especially when other clubs such as Liverpool and West Brom can get new managers in and have a dramatic reversal of fortune.

It's sad for Gerard, because I believe he is an honourable man and a likable one. I did not like the effect his management had on Aston Villa, however, and despite the strong finish, I don't think he had what it takes to get us where we need to be. He also had very little appreciation of what it means to be Villa manager, as the Anfield and Man City debacles revealed. Let's hope the new man understands us and gives Randy the return his investment deserves.

[Walmley_Villa]

The right decision all round. His health must come first. Regretably he will be remembered in my household for Liverpool away, Man City FA Cup and losing to all three of the neighbours including a Cup QF.
Get the right man in and back him. Hopefully not FSW but no doubt they will look for somebody who will utilse the strong youth set-up we have. Moyes has never held back the youngsters at Everton which I think would make him number 1 choice?

[paul_e]

Given that list from skybet I really hope we get ancelotti, I think he's the only one that will continue the route houllier was taking us towards better quality football.  Some of the others might make us as successful but he's the only candidate that will do it with style (from the list).  He's also the big name manager we've been wanting for a long time.

[Walmley_Villa]

Given that list from skybet I really hope we get ancelotti, I think he's the only one that will continue the route houllier was taking us towards better quality football.  Some of the others might make us as successful but he's the only candidate that will do it with style (from the list).  He's also the big name manager we've been wanting for a long time.

Can he do it from scratch though?

[Matt C]

Well, bye Gerard. Best wishes for the future.

SkyBet showing the following as top bets:
Hughes (1/1), Benitez (11/8), Moyes (3/1), McClaren (7/1), Ancelotti (10/1), Jol (14/1), Allardyce (14/1), Macdonald (16/1), Zola (20/1)

No to Hughes, Benitez, Allardyce, Zola or sadly Kevin Mac from me.
My top choice would be Moyes, although Ancelotti or Jol wouldn't be bad news. Martinez as an outsider.

At there are some decent options this time (Allardyce excluded)

[JackH]

I don't like to say "I told you so" but...

[tom villa]

Given that list from skybet I really hope we get ancelotti, I think he's the only one that will continue the route houllier was taking us towards better quality football.  Some of the others might make us as successful but he's the only candidate that will do it with style (from the list).  He's also the big name manager we've been wanting for a long time.

i also think ancelotti would be the best option.