Houllier looks to bring in Bergues

09 September 2010 10:27
ew Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier wants to appoint Patrice Bergues - who he worked with at Liverpool - to his backroom staff at Villa Park.[LNB] Bergues also worked alongside Houllier at Lens and Lyon at club level as well as with the French Football Federation in the late 1990s.[LNB]Houllier had wanted to bring in Phil Thompson, his number two at Anfield as assistant-manager, but he has opted to remain in his role as a pundit with Sky Sports.[LNB]Thompson said: "Had circumstances been different, I would have been delighted to accept the chance to work with Gerard Houllier and Patrice Bergues once again at Aston Villa.[LNB]"But I had to weigh up the pros and cons and while it was hugely flattering and enticing to be asked, I had no choice but to turn the offer down.[LNB]"With Gerard, you are signing up to 12-hour days. You have to be totally committed.[LNB]"I would throw myself at such a challenge again but at the same time I do not want to uproot my wife and two boys and I'm not someone who could live away from them through the week."[LNB]Houllier will take charge of Villa for the first time at Stoke on Monday after being unveiled to the media on Friday.[LNB]But before then he will meet the players - including skipper Stiliyan Petrov, Luke Young and James Collins who all backed caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald to become new manager.[LNB]MacDonald's role under the new regime has still to be confirmed by Villa.

Source: Team_Talk