Faulkner voted on to FA Council

03 June 2012 13:47

Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner has more reason to celebrate after being elected on to the FA Council.

Faulkner played a leading role in Villa securing the services of Paul Lambert from Norwich as their new manager in succession to Alex McLeish. Now the 33-year-old's growing reputation in the game has been recognised via his elevation to the council which meets to discuss and determine the major policies of the FA.

He said: "For Villa to have a voice on the council is great for the club. There is prestige but also value in having representation on the council."

He added: "I'm pleased and proud as Villa chief executive that our efforts as a club over a number of seasons have been recognised and rewarded in this way."

Faulkner is delighted that Villa have secured the young, hungry and ambitious manager he and club owner Randy Lerner sought after dispensing with McLeish's services three weeks ago.

Villa expect to officially unveil Lambert at a media conference in mid-week after the Scot signed a three-year contract.

It is reported that Lambert would also like to bring his assistant Ian Culverhouse from Norwich to Villa while striker Grant Holt is also being linked with a move from Carrow Road. Lambert and Culverhouse have worked together since linking up at Colchester.

Former Villa and Norwich striker John Deehan, who also had a spell as chief scout at the Canaries, believes Lambert will be an ideal appointment for the midlands club.

He said: "Paul is a very good manager and his record proves that. The most important thing is that he can get in his own players because we've seen what he can do with his own team.

"He managed to build an entertaining side and, more than anything, is what the majority of Villa supporters want. Possibly the lure of what Aston Villa can bring is the reason why Paul is coming, the possibility of getting back into Europe and challenging in the top eight on a regular basis."

Source: PA