Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Aston Villa target Mark Hughes as number one choice
Wednesday 1st June 2011, 11:23AM BST.
Mark Hughes
Villa are today attempting to conclude the financial terms of Gerard Houllier’s departure as Fulham boss Mark Hughes emerged as the leading name to replace him as manager.
The delay centres on clauses in the Frenchman’s contract which protect the club from a payout of more than £5m if the 63-year-old is forced out by ill-health.
Houllier, who is only in the first 12 months of a three-year contract worth £8m, has medical reports which indicate that he is fit enough to resume managerial duties following his heart problems.
But the Villa board have their own evidence which supports their belief that he is not well enough to return to the dugout. Both parties are, though, keen for the exit to be as smooth as possible and it will be a clean break for the club who will not offer Houllier a role as director of football or anything of that ilk.
The Express & Star understands that Hughes is now the frontrunner for the job although no formal approach will be made to Fulham until Houllier’s situation has been resolved.
To read our stories in full, log in to the premium 24 website.
Sponsored Links
UK Sport
Latest Blog — Microsoft Comes to the University of Wolverhampton
Last week Microsoft visited the University of Wolverhampton to give students the chance to develop their own phone apps that could be published on the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Technology blog
Business Awards
Read the full story here
Full coverage of awards celebrating the region's best businesses.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
No NO No No No No….have some ambition Villa and go get Carlo Ancelotti.
Report abuse
He would be a very good appointment for villa in my opinion.
Anyone who saw Fulham play towards the end of the season will know that he got them playing some good stuff.
I think that if you cant get Moyes or Ancelotti, either Martin Jol or Mark Hughes would be good for villa (but not as good as super mick mccarthy, lol).
Report abuse
The Villa have gone continental twice: Dr. Josef Venglos and, of course, Gerard Houllier. Neither, at the time or in hindsight, took the Villa forward from positions of relative strength following the departures of Graham Taylor and Martin O’Neill respectively. So, this time we must appoint British and that appointment must be David Moyes!
Report abuse