Source: Daily_Mail
Phil Thompson: Why I rejected Gerard Houllier and Aston Villa
Phil Thompson has revealed the reasons why he turned down the chance of a reunion with Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa.[LNB]The former Liverpool No 2 rejected the chance to again work with the Frenchman, who has taken over from Martin O'Neill at Villa Park.[LNB]Thompson, who is now a pundit on Sky Sport, admitted the long working hours and commute from Merseyside were his main reasons for snubbing Houllier.[LNB] Old pals: Phil Thompson (right) in his days with Gerard Houllier at Anfield[LNB]Writing in the Liverpool Echo, he revealed: 'Sometimes in life you get presented with an opportunity that is too good to be true but, ultimately, has to be turned down.[LNB]'Had circumstances been different, I would have been delighted to accept the chance to join Gerard Houllier and work with him and Patrice Bergues once again at Aston Villa.[LNB]'But I had to weigh up the pros and cons and while it was both flattering to be asked, not to mention hugely enticing, I really had no other choice but to turn the offer down.[LNB]Mersey man: Thompson is a Liverpool legend[LNB]'When you work with Gerard, you are signing up to 12 hour days; on top of that, you have to go to reserve games, scout players and also head off to check up on forthcoming opponents - in other words, you have to be totally committed.[LNB]'Now don't get me wrong, I would love to throw myself at such a challenge again but, at the same time, I do not want to uproot my wife and my two boys; I'm not someone who could live away from them through the week.[LNB]'What's more, the thought of doing a daily commute on the M6 does not appeal. We all know that stretch of road, at the best of times, can resemble a car park but to do the job properly, you really have to be living in the vicinity of the training ground.[LNB]'I would have been cheating Gerard, the club and the fans and that would not have been fair; Aston Villa are a terrific club with a great history and I remember only too well being on the end of a 5-1 drubbing there in 1976.[LNB]'It's fantastic to see Gerard back in the game and I have absolutely no doubt that he will do a terrific job. I've heard some people try to say that he is not the right man to take over from Martin O'Neill but the Aston Villa supporters I have heard are genuinely happy with the choice.[LNB]'He has got a wealth of knowledge, knows the game inside out and it will be fantastic occasion when Liverpool tackle Villa at Anfield in the first weekend of December.[LNB]'It would have been great to strike up the partnership we had at Anfield and to be involved in the day-to-day running of football club again really did turn my head.[LNB]'But there were other things to consider and my family comes first; to take on such a job, everything had to be right and that wasn't the case.[LNB]'So those people who watch me on Soccer Saturday, you have been warned - I'll be ranting and raving on television for a good while yet.'[LNB] Neil Moxley: Villa fans must back club even if they can't get behind HoullierGerard Houllier named Aston Villa manager after agreeing a three-year dealA Houll lot of trouble! The key issues facing new Aston Villa boss Gerard HoullierASTON VILLA FC
