Who do you want as the next manager? New poll option.

[eastie]

If lambert did use us as a stepping stone and eventually moved to a bigger job it would mean he had been a big success here - i would go for lambert and believe he could build something here like moyes has at everton and stay here for a good few seasons.

[Moorski]

Please not Mick Mc Carthy

[James]

Or, given time, he might even make us a top four club?

[pauliewalnuts]

How come AVB is 20/1 for baggies and 40/1 for Villa.

Because they don't have a clue where people are going.

It has nothing to do with what the bookies think. The price reflects where the money is being bet, then - almost entirely without human intervention - risk management software will adjust the price accordingly so the bookie isn't too exposed.

The "the bookies are never wrong" line is bollocks. Firstly, there is really very little knowledge of the human type involved once the markets are set up. Secondly, a typical bookmaker will return as payouts to punters around 95 percent of stakes placed, so if you want to use the words "right" and "wrong" with regard to bookies, the figures suggest the punter wins quite a lot, all in all.

[Legion]

I don't.

[JUAN PABLO]

Why people worried Lambert will use us as a stepping stone . If he goes on to Manure or Chelski because he was a massive success at Villa , I wouldnt give a damn and we would probably in a better position to get another good manager.

I want our manager to be a success , its like saying let's not sign Ashley Young because If he's a success he will go to Manchester Utd ,  you might as well not bother signing any young player with potential then. 

If he is that good that people think he will  be a stepping stone manager and go onto bigger things , at this time then , he is good enough for us.

[curiousorange]

What the fuck is going on with this McCarthy bollocks? Been at work all day and the Beeb are saying he's the favourite? He can cock off.

[Chipsticks]

Faulkner statement on the job search from the OS:

Chief executive Paul Faulkner insists the board are determined to bring in a new manager to "reinvigorate" Villa.

Faulkner is adamant the search is on for a boss to "bring the vibrancy" back to B6.

He is also confident that Villa are "very strong" as a club, despite the frustrating league placing in the term just gone.

Faulkner says managing Villa offers a magnificent opportunity because of, among other things, the "passionate owner and phenomenal fanbase."

He said: "I think we want to find someone who can reinvigorate the club, someone who can bring some vibrancy back to Villa. That's what we need and that's what we can get.

"You want someone who can inspire the players, inspire the fans and can deliver on the pitch.

"I think there are an awful lot of reasons you would want to come to Aston Villa. You look at the size of the club, you look at the infrastructure that we have here, both the facility at the training ground is one of the best in the country and our academy is one of the best in the country, our stadium is one of the best in the country.

"We have a fantastic owner who loves the club and has supported his managers, there's the club's history, the fans are phenomenal, why would you not want to come here?

"That's what Villa is, it's a great club. Now, the past two years the first team has struggled but Aston Villa as a club is very strong."

Faulkner accepts that the previous campaign simply wasn't good enough but he believes Villa can start challenging in the upper reaches of the table - and push for a European spot with the right man in charge.

He continued: "It's now a fresh start for us. The 2011/12 season is gone, obviously the decision has been made with Alex and for us now it's all about the future.

"It's about the new manager, it's about next season, it's about bouncing back and getting Villa back where we should be, where we feel we should be.

"Where we are right now, we're looking for a manager and we're looking to go into next season and be in those positions where we will be in there challenging. We should be in that top half of the table and fighting for the European places. Why not?

"I think that the priority is to get the manager. The next step is to sit with them and make sure we go into the season with a strong squad. We actually had our first signing of the summer here yesterday, Brett Holman, so that process has already begun and will continue.

"We know there needs to be improvement and that's what we're going to be aiming for."

Faulkner says Villa "don't want to hang around" although getting the right man is absolutely paramount.

He continued: "My phone has been going non-stop. We are very focused on this and we are going to give it absolutely everything.

"We have lots of people to consult and take advice from. That will be done as we aim to get the right man for Aston Villa.

"You never want to put a timeframe on it. We have made a quick decision on Alex and so now our aim is to bring someone in as soon as we can. The time element is something we only control a part of but we don't want to hang around now."

Faulkner also paid tribute to the character of outgoing Alex McLeish and said the decision to dispense with the manager was due to results on the pitch.

He added: "This has been a disappointing season for us. We had to make the decision with Alex McLeish. We did it with a heavy heart because Alex is a good man and he's a good manager with a track record of success.

"Obviously he had that as a player and I'm sure he will go on in the future to have success but the results that we had this year simply weren't good enough for Aston Villa."

After saying all of that, I severely doubt we'd even think about going with McCarthy.

[Legion]

That's Mad Mick out of the running, then.

[James]

Faulkner on R5 talking to Murphy any minute now!

[richard moore]

Faulkner on R5 now

[JUAN PABLO]

Faulkner said this season has been a disaster.

Didn't we tell him that last summer.

[richard moore]

Sounds very determined and to the point doesn't he

[richard moore]

'Worst year Villa has had in a generation'

[Legion]

'Not been a very good year at all, has it?'