Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Caretaker Villa boss will consider all
Thursday 12th August 2010, 10:40AM BST.
Caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald has opened the door to the first team for Villa’s up-for-sale stars by vowing – ‘the slate has been wiped clean.’
McDonald will take charge of Villa for Saturday’s Premier League curtain-raiser against West Ham and until a replacement is found for Martin O’Neill, who stunned the club when he resigned on Monday.
The Northern Irishman placed out-of-favour players Luke Young, Curtis Davies, Steve Sidwell, Nigel Reo-Coker, Habib Beye and Nicky Shorey up for sale at the start of the summer but only Shorey has left, for Albion.
But MacDonald insists everyone will get a fresh chance while he is in charge.
He said: “Obviously one or two will be a little bit happier than others because they haven’t been getting a game.
“But they’ll have to be playing their best to get into the team. Just because they haven’t been getting a game doesn’t mean I’m going to pick them.
“I’ll pick what I think is the right team – in my opinion – to win the game. Everyone starts with a fresh slate, of course.
“You have to remember too that, having worked with a lot of the young players over the years, I’ll look on them as potential players.”
MacDonald, who will be assisted by under-18 coach Tony McAndrew, insisted O’Neill’s decision to walk out on the club had come as a surprise to staff.
No limit has been put on the length of his tenure but the caretaker hinted he has been given a chance to stake his claim for the job.
He continued: “Obviously it was a major surprise to a certain extent when we found out Martin resigned.
“Our chief executive Paul Faulkner called me in to offer me the chance to be caretaker manager for the West Ham game and then see what happens.
“Whether it lasts a long or short time, who knows? But I genuinely feel honoured.
“Of course, I am excited – it’s a big thing. It’s the Premier League, it’s the start of the season and hopefully a packed Villa Park with fans cheering their team to victory.”
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