Taylor tells Villa to hire soon

Taylor spent two separate spells in charge at Villa

Former Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor believes the club must hire a new manager as soon as possible.

Gerard Houllier, 63, left the post on Wednesday after missing the final month of the season with heart problems.

The Frenchman’s nine-month reign began in September, following Martin O’Neill’s resignation only five days before the start of the season.

“The owner has to learn from that. The quicker they make that appointment the better,” Taylor told BBC Sport.

Under Houllier’s leadership, Villa flirted with relegation before climbing to a ninth-place finish in the Premier League with four wins in their final seven games.

After finishing 2010 three places and one point above the relegation zone, Houllier spent an initial £18m in the January transfer window to sign Darren Bent from Sunderland.

The purchase paid off with the England striker scoring nine goals in 16 league games.

Taylor has stated that Houllier’s successor must be afforded more time to get his own plans in place for the coming campaign.

“It is important that chief executive Paul Faulkner and Randy Lerner, if they decide to get rid of Gerard as they have done, that they follow that up soon,” he added.

“If they decide they want a manger who is under contract with a club that might take some time with compensation to be agreed.

“Each manager has a certain viewpoint on players when they come into a role and if they come in too late, as happened last year, they will have to wait until December when Gerard was able to bring in Bent and Jean Makoun.”

Faulkner has assured fans that the search for a new manager has already begun.

“As a board, we are very conscious of the need to ensure that the club is prepared fully to meet the demands of the new season,” he said.

“To that end, we have already embarked upon the process which will lead to the appointment of a new manager.”

Speculation over who might fill the vacancy has centred on Fulham manager Mark Hughes.

He joined the Cottagers in July on a two-year deal, but reports have claimed that his contract includes a break clause, potentially clearing the way to a move to the Midlands.

Fulham have refused to discuss the details of Hughes’ contract, saying their position is unchanged and that they continue to talk to Hughes over a new deal.

Everton boss David Moyes has also been suggested as a possible candidate and came top of a recent poll by the Birmingham Mail with the backing of 44% of respondents.

Taylor is confident both men could do a good job if appointed, but believes Hughes is more likely to fill the role.

“You hear talk of Mark Hughes and I would have no problem with that,” he added.

“Mark understands the modern-day footballer, he is not much older than some of them, and has managed internationally with Wales, at club level with Fulham and Manchester City.

“He is a youngish manager with experience and has a certain discipline that people recognise.

“David Moyes is another to have come up. He has been hampered by the money he has had to work with, but he has done an excellent job at Everton.

“I don’t think that Everton would want to let him go though and that is back to that problem of Villa making a quick appointment.

“David and Everton chairman Bill Kenwright get on very well as well and that is a big thing for a manager.”

Whoever is hired, Villa’s new manger may have to focus on possible departures from the club rather than arrivals in their first few days.

Villa have so far failed to agree contract extension for wingers Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, increasing speculation the pair could move on this summer.