Villa compensation bill reaches £7m

The compensation bill at Villa will hit £7million with the club forced to splash the cash on three managers in the last month.

And the claret and blues could have to pay more to fill the gap left by assistant boss Gary McAllister after his exit over the weekend.

Alex McLeish will be unveiled as the club's new manager today, with Villa still locked in a cash row with Birmingham over how much the Scot will cost.

The former Glasgow Rangers chief made the controversial switch to Villa Park on Friday and Blues are still demanding the £5.4million they believe they are owed because of McLeish's exit clause.

It's likely they will settle for nearer £3million, but Villa will still be forced to shell out on managerial compensation for a third time.

Former manager Gerard Houllier left with a £2.5million pay-out following his departure with health problems three weeks ago, while Villa coughed up £1.5million to Martin O'Neill following a tribunal in May.

Villa will be keen to ensure costs over McLeish's appointment don't spiral out of control but they could pay Blues more should the Scot bring his backroom staff with him.

Coach Peter Grant and goalkeeping coach Dave Watson could follow McLeish to Villa Park after McAllister's departure.

The former Liverpool and Leeds midfielder was drafted in by Houllier – who he played under at Anfield – but has followed the Frenchman out of the club after less than a year.

French conditioning coach Robert Duverne has handed in his resignation but first-team coach Gordon Cowans and goalkeeping coach Rafa Gonzalez are staying.

Cowans will remain in his role but Gonzalez could return to the academy should Watson join.

And Cowans, who won the European Cup with Villa in 1982, is keen to work with McLeish.

He said: "I've spoken to Alex. That was one of the first things he did when he came to the training ground on his first day at the club and I'm looking forward to working with him.

"He's a good man, a good manager and the players will all be looking forward to working with him, as I know he is about working with them.

"I know everyone at the club will give him their full support because he's a man who commands that level of respect."