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

[eastie]

Reports today that houllier has medical evidence he is ok and villa won't accept it, seems it's far from mutual and he is holding out for a big pay off -from mirror reports it's more of a sacking than a mutual agreement.

[N'ZMAV]

I think this is going to get messy.

[Nev]

It would be ironic if it became a struggle to get the bloke to leave having struggled to get him here in the first place.

[eastie]

Villa target Hughes as their new manager
Published 23:01 31/05/11 By John Percy

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Aston Villa have identified Mark Hughes as their No. 1 target to replace Gerard Houllier - despite the continuing wrangle over the terms of the Frenchman’s exit from the club.

Villa's American owner Randy Lerner is ready to move for the Fulham boss, who is available after delaying putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal at Craven Cottage.

Lerner, who got his fingers badly burned last summer when Martin O’Neill left him in the lurch just days before the Premier League season kicked off, has been alerted to the fact he can appoint Hughes quickly due to the existing terms of the Welshman’s contract with Cottagers chief Mohamed Al-Fayed.

Hughes, 47, can effectively walk away without Fulham receiving any compensation, and Lerner is desperate to make a fast appointment when he finally clears up the mess of Houllier’s departure.

Former Wales boss Hughes has been offered a new deal by Al-Fayed but has not signed it yet, opening the door for Villa to exploit a clause written into the contract he agreed last summer.

Fulham will be reluctant to part with the manager who guided them to a respectable eighth-placed finish - and into next season’s Europa League via the Fair Play system.

Ironically, Hughes was on Villa’s radar just days after his appointment at Fulham, following O’Neill's shock exit in August.

They do not anticipate any problems approaching him this time around, although they have also ear-marked former Spurs boss Martin Jol - who is a free agent - and Everton’s David Moyes, although he would be costly in terms of compensation.

Lerner’s first task is to finally end the uncertainty over Houllier, who is thrashing out a severance package worth around £5million.

Houllier's departure has been delayed and complicated by the fact that the 63-year-old is keen to continue and has medical evidence to back up his claims that he is healthy enough to cope with the demands of the job following his heart scare in April.

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/Aston-Villa-Fulham-news-Mark-Hughes-is-No-1-target-to-be-manager-after-Gerard-Houllier


Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Aston-Villa-Fulham-news-Mark-Hughes-is-No-1-target-to-be-manager-after-Gerard-Houllier-gets-5m-payoff-article743277.html#ixzz1O0XPAiAA

[Rigadon]

If we're going for managers who don't cost too much in compensation what was the point of paying mega money for Bent?  Mixed messages there but it's in the mirror so.....

If it's true, Hughes would be quite uninspiring, solid, a bit boring really.  Better than a Curbishley, not as good as a Moyes and nothing like as exciting as Ancelotti.  About where we are right now so it has the ring of truth.

[nick harper]

I wouldn't be disappointed in Hughes at all. I think Lerner is looking for an experienced Premier League manager and one who will have the respect of the dressing room.

He has good connections with players he has worked with before and who have been mentioned as possible transfer targets anyway - Robinson, Samba. He may also be the manager who is able to turn our headcase into the creative, goalscoring midfield player we need and save us a fortune in the transfer market.

[Rigadon]

Fair enough, Nick.  It just doesn't excite me.  Not sure I want to see Ireland in a Villa shirt again either.

[eastie]

not my first choice but a solid enough manager and far better than mclaren, curbishley and that ilk, a bit maybe like an o neill style of football but hughes should have us challenging in the top 6 or 7 again.

[Merv]

If I'm being totally honest, to me there's not a significant difference between Hughes and Moyes, IMO. Both similar types of manager; whereas Moyes has achieved some solid results and progress with Everton, Hughes did a very good job at Blackburn, was doing well at City (I believe had he stayed he'd have achieved what Mancini has this season), and had a good first season at Fulham, following a tough act in Roy Hodgson. Both he and Moyes would be safe, steady managers...

[eastie]

If I'm being totally honest, to me there's not a significant difference between Hughes and Moyes, IMO. Both similar types of manager; whereas Moyes has achieved some solid results and progress with Everton, Hughes did a very good job at Blackburn, was doing well at City (I believe had he stayed he'd have achieved what Mancini has this season), and had a good first season at Fulham, following a tough act in Roy Hodgson. Both he and Moyes would be safe, steady managers...

this.

[DB]

The Mirror, must be true.

[Greg N'Ash]

Can't compare moyes and Hughes really. Hughes has no track record apart from  failing miserably at being a chequebook manager. Yeah he did ok at Blackburn but they were horrible horrible team with no redeeming features.

[AsTallAsLions]

If he's been cleared by several independent assessments then I'd worry about those doctors. The man clearly isn't well enough to be in stressful employment given his age and his history of heart trouble.

I do sympathise with him but if we can't see the wood from the trees on this issue what are you supposed to say? One would hope those are false rumours apart him being cleared to continue, whilst also wishing him well.

[Ger Regan]

Can't compare moyes and Hughes really. Hughes has no track record apart from  failing miserably at being a chequebook manager. Yeah he did ok at Blackburn but they were horrible horrible team with no redeeming features.

Hughes has actually won something in his time as Premier League manager, Moyes has won the square root of sod all in his time at Everton.

[Summers]

The more I think about it, the more I'd like Hughes as manager. Houllier needs to stop fighting and go. If we, the club, decide we can't risk him staying on because of his health he has to accept it. It's damaging for him and us if he stays, and he needs to bite the bullet and accept his severance.