Villa on verge of choosing new boss

Villa were today on the verge of appointing a new manager and could even name Gerard Houllier's replacement before the weekend.

Owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner are understood to be close to finalising their choice for the job, after secret talks with prospective candidates took place over the past 48 hours.

The identity of the new man is being kept under wraps while the finer details are ironed out, although former England coach Steve McClaren and current Wigan manager Roberto Martinez are thought to be among the frontrunners.

Ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has also been strongly linked to the vacancy and his agent today refused to comment on rumours that he has held talks with the claret and blues.

[polldaddy poll=5123615]

Former Villa captain Gareth Southgate insisted that McClaren would have nothing to prove if he is handed the Villa job, despite the lukewarm reception supporters have given the news that he is among the contenders.

Southgate, who lifted the League Cup and reached the UEFA Cup final under McClaren at Middlesbrough, dismissed suggestions the 50-year-old lacked credentials.

The former defender, who McClaren signed for Boro from Villa for £6.5million in 2001, said: "There seems to be, when he's linked with a job, a negative reaction from people.

"Yet if you look at him as someone who has been the assistant manager at Manchester United, the England manager, won a championship abroad and had a great deal of success with Middlesbrough, then you start to think why wouldn't he be in the frame?

"Unfortunately we're always tainted by things which didn't go so well in our careers but there's a lot Steve has done right.

"We're talking about a job which has proved difficult for many outstanding managers and coaches and I look at Steve's record at other clubs and it's very strong."

McClaren rebuilt his reputation with Twente in Holland, winning the Eredivisie in 2010, before moving to German outfit Wolfsburg – where he was sacked in February.

But Southgate, the FA's head of elite development, reckons McClaren will not simply walk into the job.

He said: "Steve's a hard working coach who wants to improve all the time. But it's a job which will be coveted and there are good people who would do an excellent job out there.

"Randy Lerner and the board seem very well organised. They had a difficult season last year as when you lose your manager days before the start it's going to have an impact."

[24link]