Aston Villa to step up search for new boss
Monday 30th August 2010, 11:29AM BST.
Kevin MacDonald today insisted he should not be viewed as the favourite for the Villa job despite ending a tumultuous two weeks on a high with victory over Everton.
The caretaker boss made it two wins, two defeats and a draw from his five games in charge with a 1-0 triumph over the Toffees yesterday courtesy of Luke Young’s strike.
With Villa’s next game away at Stoke not until a fortnight today, owner Randy Lerner will now intensify his search for Martin O’Neill’s replacement with interviews for the post set to start this week.
MacDonald yesterday again insisted he remained undecided over whether he wants to be considered for the role on a permanent basis, but D-day is now upon the Scot, who refused to talk up his chances.
The Scot said: “I still don’t know whether it’s for me. I also have to believe I am good enough to make sure Aston Villa stays where it is and, hopefully, progresses.
“I don’t look at myself as being the favourite. It would help me being in a position and knowing the players were backing what I was trying to do.”
A statement from chief executive Paul Faulkner released last night revealed the two traits of “crucial importance” the club are looking for is “experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our squad.”
He added: “We wish to make clear our relative inactivity in the transfer market in no way reflects a change in direction or dilution of ambition for the club, but rather our reluctance to make decisions on players without a permanent manager in place.”
Meanwhile, James Collins today urged Villa to “bust a gut” to hang on to Spurs traget Ashley Young.
He said: “It is vitally important we keep hold of Ashley. Any club wants to try and hold on to their best players if they can.
“Ashley is up there with the best players at the club and we will be busting a gut to hang on to him. Unfortunately James Milner left. But we’ve got to put that behind us and kick on.”
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