Manager for next season

[Dave P]

Woe betide he was actually sacked for footballing reasons as his team was bottom for 80% of the season.

[ciggiesnbeer]

The Scum

ROBERTO DI MATTEO is the new manager of Aston Villa and expects to be behind his desk within 48 hours.

In a perfect world Xia would have been in charge when Di Matteo’s appointment was officially announced but the new man stressed his desire to start moving on new signing targets - and sorting out a structured and detailed pre-season straight away.

The former MK Dons, West Brom, Chelsea and Schalke manager intends to hit the ground running in the next 48 hours and sources close to the former Di Matteo say he can’t wait to get started and expects to be "behind his desk at Bodymoor Heath before the weekend."

I like the sound of that.

[dave shelley]

It made the sports bulletin on breakfast television here this morning (TVam).  Three-year contract at 1.8m per year.  They could have got their info from the S*n mind.

[not3bad]

Sounds like Jordan Ayew might stay if Di Matteo is appointed. http://www.modernghana.com/sports/695503/jordan-ayew-to-get-former-chelsea-boss-roberto-di-matteo-as.html

[Hookeysmith]

Hope this is true and welcome RDM if so. I am especially happy if he brings Newton as his #2

I do however wonder how salary details for either players or managers are known - I work in a company and no one other than HR Director and wage roll know a single persons salary details or bonus.

Lets now wait for the press conference

* Maybe Collymore is just fishing to get an "in" with him prior to taking over - he does like his namedropped "friends"

[in exile]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/10300979/aston-villa-close-to-confirming-roberto-di-matteo-as-manager-say-sky-sources?

Reports earlier this morning revealed Aston Villa are close to appointing Roberto Di Matteo as Remi Garde's successor, but here's the latest from our Sky sources...

"The club's new owner Dr Tony Xia is understood to have been impressed with Di Matteo's CV and his plans for the Villa squad. Dr Xia's £76m takeover will only be concluded once he passes the Premier League's owners' and directors' test.


"Di Matteo, who stepped down at Schalke a year ago after a seven-month spell at the German club, is understood to have been at the top of Villa's wish-list ever since the takeover, with Xia looking to make a marquee appointment, which could come within 48 hours."

[gpbarr]

If I hear one more "close to" or "in the next 48 hours" ........... its time to get the deal done. His pre-season rebuild needs maximum time

[N'ZMAV]

another 48 hours...

[Walmley_Villa]

I get the feeling the fact it is June 1st will trigger a number of activities. Pre-season does actually exist an details released. De Matteo should be in place imminently and the Macron deal also finished yesterday I believe so the new kit can be released.

[QuintonVilla]

Di Matteo is 'meh' for me. Not annoyed, not delighted. Will give him a chance and hope it's a master stroke.

[N'ZMAV]

I'm not all McLeish about it, I feel similar to when we appointed Lambert. a bit Meh.
I'm used to it now.

[Gregorys Boy]

Di Matteo is 'meh' for me. Not annoyed, not delighted. Will give him a chance and hope it's a master stroke.

Same here.  The important thing is that there is a good steady structure for him to work at at the club.  If true the news about Ayew is positive. 

[Edvard Remberg]

Xia/someone said they had set teams to plan all early on, and that they had 3 tours lined up for a new manager to pick from. We have now announced a friendly tour, so sounds like the pieces fit.

[Gregorys Boy]

I don't want Pellergrini, I can't understand a word he says.

I would just take him for the fact that he looks like David Cronenberg to be honest!

[django]

I'm not all McLeish about it, I feel similar to when we appointed Lambert. a bit Meh.
I'm used to it now.

Realistically, who would we get with a better CV?
Promoted from the Championship and won Champions League.
That's really not too shabby.