Villa fans urged to keep the faith

Tuesday 24th August 2010, 12:00PM BST.

Villa owner Randy Lerner’s right-hand man has urged fans not to turn on caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald when the team come home from their Newcastle nightmare.

The claret and blues head into Thursday’s Europa League play-off second leg with Rapid Vienna as favourites to progress following last week’s 1-1 draw in Austria and they will be eager to impress after Sunday’s shock 6-0 mauling by the Magpies.

MacDonald had been favourite to replace Martin O’Neill permanently, but the disastrous defeat has left question marks over whether he is the right man for the job.

However, non-executive director General Charles Krulak insists fans must get behind the Scot for a game which will determine whether Villa make the group stages.

He said: “We are working hard on the manager issue. Randy is not afraid to get the right man. That has been demonstrated in the way he went after the current manager of the Cleveland Browns.

“Rest assured, no one is happy about the result – the owner, the manager, the board or the players.

“At the same time, it might be unfair to Kevin MacDonald to have everyone turn on him as a result of one performance.

“One game doesn’t make a season – whether it is an exciting win or a dreadful loss.”

United States coach Bob Bradley is the new favourite after confirming he wants the job, while Martin Jol and Jurgen Klinsmann have also been linked.

Krulak reiterated Villa won’t be rushed into an appointment, with MacDonald likely to remain boss for Sunday’s game at Everton before the two-week international break.

He continued: “The idea that we must run out and get a manager just to say we have a manager does not make sense to me.

“I wish I could say we have the world’s best manager and he will be at Bodymoor tomorrow and that Lionel Messi will be playing for us next week. I wish I could say a lot of things but I can’t.

“But to hint Randy will not name a manager until the transfer window is closed, because he wants to save money is pure nonsense!”


  1. 1
    Howard Hodgson

    Kevin Mac clearly does not want the job.. He would have immediately thrown his hat in the ring if he did and not keep saying he needs another week to decide.

    He has proved he is a good coach with the work he has done with the reserves. He got it badly wrong on Sun as the midfield was hopelessly lightweight and he like MON has still not realised that Petrov cannot play the holding role.

    Martin Jol must be appointed. If we sell the club to him he would not be able to resist the challenge although I must admit the result on Wed in the Ajax-Kiev game will probably play a big part.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    The Bilston Villan

    Quote : “United States coach Bob Bradley is the new favourite after confirming he wants the job, while Martin Jol and Jurgen Klinsmann have also been linked.”

    5 Hours ago in the Express & Star!

    Unquote : United States coach Bob Bradley, along with Martin Jol and Jurgen Klinsmann are no longer being linked with the position.”???

    Does someone want to explain what’s going on!

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Wislor

    Please not bob bradley, he would be a disaster

    Report abuse



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