Houllier arrives with hitches

SOCCER: STUART JAMESis left bewildered as Gerard Houllier reveals he is unable to guarantee when his first game in charge of Aston Villa would be

GERARD HOULLIER’S arrival as manager at Aston Villa descended into farce yesterday when the Frenchman was unable to guarantee when his first game in charge would be.

Houllier has yet to secure his release from the French Football Federation (FFF)– he has three months’ notice to serve – and his commitments to his role as their technical director mean he will not be able to attend Villa’s Premier League fixture at Stoke City on Monday.

In fact there was little that could be said with any certainty after a bizarre day at Villa Park when Houllier revealed: – His first league game as manager will be at the earliest two weeks’ tomorrow – 48 days after Martin O’Neill resigned – although he might not even be able to make that match.

– Kevin MacDonald, who was overlooked for the manager’s position and rejected the chance to be Houllier’s number two, will be back in charge on a caretaker basis on Monday.

– Three people have already turned down the chance to be Houllier’s assistant manager, with Patrice Bergues the latest to decline.

– He may have to return to the FFF for the odd day while he is Villa’s manager if he does not serve his three months’ notice.

The 63-year-old, who has yet to sign a contract with Villa but said it was a “formality”, said he will not be managing the team at home against Bolton a week today.

He plans to be in the dug-out for the first time on Wednesday week, when Villa take on Blackburn in the League Cup, before overseeing his first league game at Wolverhampton Wanderers two weeks tomorrow, but he could not promise that would definitely be the case.

It was hardly the most positive of starts, if it can be called a start, and came after some less than inspiring quotes emerged in France yesterday morning. “Aston Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let’s be objective and honest,” Houllier, who spent six years in charge of Liverpool, between 1998 and 2004, said. “It’s a club that according to me has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League.”

Villa have finished in the top six in nine of their 18 seasons in the Premier League, although reminding Houllier of the club’s recent history feels like the least of supporters’ worries given the Frenchman’s complications with the FFF. “Even (the Wolves game) I can’t promise,” Houllier said. “All I can tell you is I will come. We spoke with Paul (Faulkner, the club’s chief executive) yesterday and there is no point delaying the official press conference. At some stage I will be here. To me the earliest would be the Bolton game, not in charge but there.

“I couldn’t get back for the Stoke game. I have meetings Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I apologise for that. You understand I’m the head of the national coaches, the regional coaches. The season has started, the work is under way. The other thing is that, if I don’t do the three months’ (notice), maybe I have to go one day (to the FFF) and maybe spend time there.”

Quite how MacDonald feels about being back in caretaker charge after missing out on the manager’s role is unclear. He has told Houllier he is not interested in being his assistant and that he would prefer to return to his role as reserve-team manager. Phil Thompson had already rejected the assistant manager’s position and yesterday Bergues, who worked with Houllier at Liverpool and Lyon, turned the post down. Gary McAllister is expected to be Houllier’s next choice.

Houllier rejected the notion this season would have to be written off as one of transition, although he accepted the players had been placed in a “more difficult” and “tricky” position. Asked whether he had an overriding message for the Villa fans, he replied: “We are in this together . . . It’s a tricky season because of what has happened. Their support is fundamental. We play for the fans. Our aim is to give them pleasure.”

When that will be is anyone’s guess.