EXCLUSIVE: McLeish accepts the Villa job

Alex McLeish has agreed to be Aston Villa boss after shaking on the deal with owner Randy Lerner after dinner at the American's London home.

McLeish, 52, is now set to be unveiled as Villa's new manager after his controversial resignation by email from neighbouring Birmingham.

Relegated Brum are still contesting McLeish's shock exit on Sunday.

They claim he was tapped up and want £5.4million in compensation.

But Villa expect to compromise on a reduced figure as McLeish reckons he has grounds for constructive dismissal.

Now Villa are pressing ahead with the appointment, despite their plans causing uproar on both sides of the Second City.

Villa's training ground was defaced on Wednesday with anti-McLeish graffiti saying: "Bluenose scum not welcome" painted on a wall at the entrance.

But McLeish and Villa are ready to go ahead after meeting on Tuesday night at Lerner's London home, just hours after the club revealed they would interview him.

McLeish, Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner discussed a lucrative three-year contract for the Scot, whose pay was due to halve to £800,000-a-year in the Championship.

And groom-to-be Faulkner hopes to unveil McLeish and get the switch completed before he gets married at the weekend.

Birmingham are complaining about McLeish's defection to both the Premier League and FA, however.

They say McLeish resigned in a conspiracy with Villa to avoid meeting his large contractual compensation clause.

McLeish's backroom staff of Peter Grant, Andy Watson and Dave Watson will follow him out of St Andrew's to Villa.

Chief scout Paul Montgomery, who MirrorFootball revealed on May 24 had been sacked by Blues, and doctor Ian McGuinness may also make the switch.

McLeish will become the first boss to cross the city since Ron Saunders in 1982.

Alan Curbishley was playing for Birmingham at the time and is unsurprised feelings are running high in the city.

"When Ron Saunders went from Villa to Birmingham there was uproar," said Curbishley. "I can understand the furore that is going to happen if Alex McLeish goes to Villa.

"I think people outside of the city of Birmingham don't understand the rivalry between the two clubs. It is massive.

"Perhaps Alex, if he does go to Villa, has not thought that bit out. It is a big situation he is going into. If it does happen, there will be some tricky times ahead."

Around 400 Villa fans protested at Villa Park last night about McLeish's imminent arrival.

But both the Scot, who flew back early this week from a family holiday in Corsica to speak with Lerner, and Villa's hierarchy remain unflinching.

A Villa source said: "Talks with Alex and the board have been positive and productive and are on-going."

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