Brian Little set to be appointed to Aston Villa board

The 62-year-old, a fans favourite as a player during the 1970s, who then led them to a League Cup triumph in 1996 as manager, has been invited to join the board by new chairman Steve Hollis.

Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein is also reportedly being lined up for a director role.

Hollis, who appointed chairman in January, is currently carrying out an overview of the club, after a disastrous season which looks certain to end with Villa being relegated from the Premier League.

Mervyn King, the former governor of the Bank of England, also joined the board as a director last month.