Houllier will head up three-man Aston Villa dream team
Published 23:00 03/09/10 By John Percy
Gerard Houllier is set to be unveiled as the head of a new Aston Villa boot room on Monday - part of a major gamble by Randy Lerrner.
The 62-year-old Frenchman is prepared to take on the role of Director of Football as part of a new three-man strategy to be unveiled by Villa’s American owner.
Houllier will head up the operation to assist new head coach Kevin MacDonald and Steve Staunton, who will join the Villa Park staff as assistant coach.
Lerner has taken a major risk in adopting the continental strategy favoured on the continent, but which has hardly been attempted in England.
He has gone against the warning of former boss Martin O’Neill - who claimed before his resignation that managers in the Premier League should be allowed to run `all football matters.’
Houllier has not been involved in management since he left Lyon in 2007 and also suffered heart problems during his six-years in charge of Liverpool and had to undergo a heart by-pass.
Villa are reluctant to expose the Frenchman to the intense pressure of Premier League management, but feel he could work alongside MacDonald.
Former Liverpool midfielder MacDonald, 49, is regarded as an excellent coach, but his lack of extensive managerial experience at the highest level has been exposed during his short stint as caretaker.
Villa have responded to advice given to them by former manager Graham Taylor, who met with chief executive Paul Faulkner in a brain-storming session last week.
The former England manager is convinced such a structure would work well and would leave MacDonald on the training ground where his strengths lie.
MacDonald has been interviewed for the post by Lerner and made it clear he would be happy to work in such a partnership with a more experienced figure.
His appointment, crucially, will also be welcomed by the Villa players - with many of the current squad left disillusioned by O’Neill’s final months in charge.
Staunton, 41, worked with MacDonald with the Republic of Ireland and will also be a popular appointment after spending seven years as a player with the club.
Villa insiders claimed last night the process is still `ongoing’ but it is understood they are set to announce their new set-up early next week.
Aston Villa have re-signed veteran goalkeeper Andy Marshall on a one-year deal.
