16 Jun 2011 21:14:00
EPL ; Alex McLeish – Gerard Houllier, Birmingham City v Aston Villa(Getty Images)
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After resigning from his position at Birmingham City on Saturday, Alex McLeish looks set to take over at fellow Midlands club Aston Villa following the agreement of a £2m compensation deal with the Blues, according to Sky Sports.
Villa, who have been without a manager since Gerard Houiller left the club after a recent health scare, look set to appoint the Glaswegian after failing to land Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, who opted to stay at the DW Stadium on Friday.
Chairman Randy Lerner held ‘productive’ talks with the 52-year-old on Wednesday and looks set to get his man after the Blues reduced the £5.4m they were orignially believed to be chasing.
Birmingham chief Carson Yeung had threatened to report Villa to the Premier League for tapping up the former Rangers and Scotland manager and also wanted to take out an injuction on McLeish to stop him taking over at Villa Park.
On Wednesday night Villa fans showed their distress at the potential appointment of the Scot by protesting at and vandalising the club’s training ground.
McLeish has reportedly been chosen as the right man to take the club forward ahead of ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez – who fell out of the running after enquiring about transfer guarantees – and ex-Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, who politely declined the invitation in favour of taking a break from football.
McLeish had managed Birmingham since 2007 and guided the club to the Premier League. He also had League Cup success this season but suffered relegation to the Championship following a final day defeat to Tottenham.