• Premier League

Villa confirm intention to interview McLeish

ESPNsoccernet staff
June 14, 2011
Alex McLeish is unlikely to prove as popular an appointment as former Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill © Getty Images
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Aston Villa have confirmed they will hold talks with former Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish "imminently" as they seek to appoint a new manager, and Blues have responded by declaring they will "lodge a formal complaint to the footballing authorities".

McLeish has been the favourite to take control at Villa Park since quitting their local rivals on Sunday and Villa now look set to controversially appoint the Scot as successor to Gerrard Houllier.

The former Rangers manager failed to keep Birmingham in the Premier League last season and his defection to Villa is unlikely to go down well with the club's supporters. However, Villa released a statement to insist the "high emotions'' surrounding the possible appointment of McLeish will not deter them if they feel he is the right candidate.

"The club has been reluctant to elaborate publicly on our search for a new manager and, in particular, to confirm or deny our interest in specific candidates," read a statement from the Villa board on the club's official website. "This is not a new policy, indeed it is the approach that we have taken both in regard to managerial prospects, and potential player signings.

"The club understands that Alex McLeish is a free agent. We therefore intend to interview him imminently in order to make a decision regarding his candidacy to become Villa manager. From the beginning of our search, we have set out criteria based on proven Premier League experience, compelling leadership, an ethic for hard work and, most importantly, sharing our vision for Aston Villa as we know that without a shared vision any appointment, however attractive, will ultimately fail.

"Since 2006 we have approached our custodianship of Villa based on a broad-based strategy of significant investment to improve the squad, the training ground and Villa Park. We feel it is essential to select a manager who understands and supports our strategy for the club to grow and to be sustainable.

"We would, however, like to emphasise that in deciding to interview Alex McLeish, the board has taken his tenure at our local rivals and the strong emotions associated with this very seriously. We are determined, still, not to allow that three-and-a-half year post to disqualify him should he be the best candidate for the role of Aston Villa manager."

McLeish's exit from Birmingham was an acrimonious one and Blues acting chairman Peter Pannu has insisted his club will demand full compensation of £5.4 million if the manager moves across the city. He will also make a formal complaint regarding Villa's approach for McLeish.

"Birmingham City Football Club finds Aston Villa's announcement today (Tuesday) to proceed with an interview with Alex McLeish a contempt of Premier League and FA rules," read a statement on Blues' official website.

"The club feel this will taint football and give the game and the footballing authorities a bad name if this is allowed to materialise. The club will do what is within its powers to prevent this and will lodge a formal complaint to the authorities tomorrow as there is now not the slightest doubt remaining about this tap-up attempt.

"Birmingham City FC stresses that this conduct, if condoned, will open up flood gates and set a very bad precedent. This is also an attack against the intelligence and integrity of not only the Villa fans, but most importantly our fans who are badly let down after having just been relegated. It is definitely a bitter pill to swallow for all fans concerned, both here and across the city. Never have the two clubs seen such a strong unity between their rival fans and this unity is based on humility and integrity and what is right and fair."

Meanwhile, the League Managers' Association (LMA) has leapt to the defence of McLeish, claiming he walked out on Birmingham due to a disagreement over transfer policy and the sacking of his chief scout, not because of the vacant post at Villa.

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said there had been "aggressive and seriously undermining communications" that had made McLeish's position untenable.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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