Holte End favourite Ian Taylor believes goalkeeper Brad Friedel is the best candidate to be Villa’s new skipper.

The club will kick off next season with a new captain, following the retirement of Martin Laursen and departure of Gareth Barry to Manchester City.

Stiliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Curtis Davies and Ashley Young were all given the honour in the pair’s absence last season, but it is 38-year-old veteran keeper Friedel whom Taylor believes is best equipped for the job.

And he knows a thing or two, he has previously worn the very same armband for Villa.

He said: “Brad has a wealth of experience. He seems the captain type. Gareth and Martin led by example rather than being screamers and shouters. Brad is the same.

“He’s calm. I’m not usually a fan of a goalkeeper being captain but there aren’t that many options and I think he’s the best of them.

“It has to be a mainstay of the team who will be playing every week, so with Brad you know he’s going to be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

“At the moment we don’t know if Nigel Reo-Coker will still be there and although Curtis captained West Brom, I think he is still a bit young.

“If I had to choose an outfield player it would be Luke Young. He’s a level headed guy and captained Charlton.

Barry has been mooted as City’s next skipper but Taylor is adamant the role should not be handed to one of Villa’s new arrivals.

The former midfielder said: “I always think it’s strange, because they don’t know the players. There has to be trust and respect and it takes time.”

Peter Schmeichel was the last Villa goalkeeper to receive the honour, wearing the armband during the 2001/02 season.