Villa step up bid for McLeish

16 June 2011 06:51
Aston Villa will step up their bid to secure Alex McLeish as their new manager on Thursday, despite protests from hundreds of supporters.[LNB] Club owner Randy Lerner held two rounds of positive and productive discussions with McLeish on Wednesday after identifying the Scot as prime candidate to replace Gerard Houllier, who left Villa a fortnight ago due to concerns over his health.[LNB]McLeish quit Villa's local rivals Birmingham on Sunday and flew back from a family holiday in Corsica to speak with Lerner in London.[LNB]Villa believe they are entitled to talk to McLeish after claiming he is a free agent.[LNB]But Blues are still hoping to obtain £5.4million in compensation for the remaining two years of McLeish's contract.[LNB]Several hundred Villa fans voiced their opposition to McLeish taking charge during a protest at Villa Park on Wednesday evening.[LNB]One of them, Chris Hearn, who had 'No McLeish' printed on his shirt, said "Our board has bankrupted Aston Villa's credibility.[LNB]"They aren't listening to us, but they'll notice when the team is playing in front of a half-empty stadium."[LNB]Another protester, Brian Johnson, said: "I'll be totally disgruntled if they appoint McLeish.[LNB]"The board got it wrong with Houllier so they needed to get this one right, and I don't think they have."

Source: Team_Talk