Who Should be Aston Villa Manager ? Now with new, revised poll

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

It has been reported that 5 independent medical reports have been assesed by Lerners medical team and if the conclusion is that he is not fit to continue surely either an insurance policy or he is paid for his period of his remaining contract is all Aston Villa are legally entitled to have to pay him ? This has got to happen quickly. Grab Ancellotti with both hands and prove to A Young, S Downing and the fans that we are still ambitious ....

[Greg N'Ash]

If the board reckon the answer is Hughes then they're asking the wrong question. GH was a wtf? appointment to most of us but at least they had very little option given the timing of the departure of the last guy and it did show they were thinking outside the usual names.. I'm sure people will get behind him but really it would be totally un-inspiring and they'll have a trouble selling it as anymore as a return to MON's competitive but limited style

[The Left Side]

I know it's the sun but their website is also mentioning Hughes and how he is free to join Villa with his contract!

[willywombat]

Oh no, I've got a horrible feeling it might just be that grim faced knob jockey. He's much  like O'Neill but minus the charisma in my opinion

[Ross]

We are probably in the strongest position to make a 'statement of intent' regarding a manager we have ever been. Certainly more so than the panic of 12 months ago.  I hope the board take this opportunity and go for someone world class, which in my view, means Ancelotti of those available.

We seem happy to fork out £millions for players, and our last few managers have been on very generous contracts by all accounts, so please go that extra mile to get a top notch manager.

Mark Hughes may be solid enough, but would simply reinforce our mid-table perception to current and potential players.

[ozzjim]

The last 12 months manager wise have been like a typical Villa match. Bright early start, some grim times in the middle, a decent late rally, then a disastrous own goal at the end, appoint Mark Hughes. I was kind of unmoved by Moyes, but could see the logic. Hughes is a thug, who will make us just like we were under O'Neill. He bought Sidwell ffs.

[Clampy]

If we want to keep the likes of Downing, Bent etc, then we'll have to do a lot better than bring Mark Hughes. It's the kind of appointment the Albion would make.

[ozzjim]

Albion did better. I would sooner have Woy that Hughes any day.

[pauliewalnuts]

Gteg, willy, ross, ozz and clampy above - all spot on.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Hughes would be a piss poor appointment in my opinion.

Talk of Martinez at Wigan as well.

[eastie]

Most of the press seem to think it is Hughes with o neill linked to fulham.

Also reports that houllier has medical evidence he is fit but villa disagree and he wants a big pay off, seems to be more a sacking than mutual agreement.


However, Villa have their own reports from club doctors and are reluctant to avoid landing themselves in legal hot water in what is already a political nightmare for the club.

Last night, it still appeared far from certain Villa and Houllier would agree to part ways by “mutual consent”, though it is widely expected the matter will finally be sorted today.



Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/

[eastie]

Aston Villa target Mark Hughes to replace Gérard Houllier as manager• Confirmation expected of Houllier's exit by mutual consent
• Steve McClaren and Martin Jol also contenders for Villa post

 
Share8  Stuart James guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 May 2011 22.31 BST Article history
Fulham's manager, Mark Hughes, is believed to be a frontrunner to step into the shoes of Gérard Houllier at Aston Villa. Photograph: Paul Thomas/AP
Mark Hughes has emerged as the frontrunner to take over as Aston Villa manager as the Midlands club step up their search for a successor to Gérard Houllier. Villa are expected to confirm within the next 24 hours that Houllier's turbulent nine‑month reign in charge has come to an end by mutual consent, although there remains a possibility that the announcement will be delayed because of a wrangle over his severance package.

Houllier's role has been in doubt since he was admitted to hospital on 20 April with chest pains. He was discharged eight days later, after being diagnosed with a dissection of the descending aorta – a condition related to the 11 hours of open‑heart surgery he underwent 10 years ago – and although Houllier was determined to return to frontline management, within Villa there were grave reservations about how a 63‑year‑old with his medical history could be expected to handle the pressure.

Those concerns were articulated to Houllier over the weekend, when Randy Lerner, the Villa owner, and Paul Faulkner, the club's chief executive, came to the conclusion that it was a risky strategy to continue with the former Liverpool manager in charge. Houllier, who had two years remaining on the £2.5m‑per‑year contract he signed when he supplanted Martin O'Neill last September, seems certain to walk away with a sizeable sum from his settlement, which could take longer to resolve than Villa had initially hoped.

Those Villa supporters that had become disillusioned with life under Houllier will believe that a seven-figure pay-out is a price worth paying if the club can appoint an experienced Premier League manager capable of re‑energising a squad that badly underachieved last season. Hughes, who is in charge of Fulham, is likely to relish that task and would have been a certainty to get the Villa job before Houllier, had he not agreed to take over at Craven Cottage 12 days before O'Neill resigned.

Hughes, significantly, is yet to sign a new two-year contract at Fulham despite lengthy discussions with the club. It is also understood that his current deal has a one-month break clause, which can be activated from Wednesday and would allow him to walk away on 30 June. Fulham, however, remain bullish about their prospects of keeping Hughes, who recovered from a difficult first half of the season to secure an eighth-placed finish and qualify for the Europa League.

Steve McClaren, Martin Jol and David Moyes are the other leading contenders for the Villa job. Moyes has long been linked with Villa and would be a popular choice among the club's fans, but prising him out of Everton promises to be extremely difficult. He is particularly close with Bill Kenwright, the chairman at Goodison Park, and has two years remaining on his contract. He may also feel that Villa, despite their increased spending power, represents a sideways move.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

No to Hughes or McClaren. Yes to Moyes or Ancelloti.

[Dave P]

I've got no problem with Mark Hughes at all either.  I think there are better options out there but they would all be gambles.  Carlo and Rafa included.

[TimTheVillain]

Seems logical to compromise on £2.5 mill to Houllier, then place Hughes in charge.

I think he'd do a great job at Villa - I think players like him, and to me, that's half the battle.