Soccer: ALEX McLEISH is set to be unveiled as the Aston Villa manager on Monday, with Birmingham City insisting they will press ahead with their legal fight for compensation.
Birmingham have been dissuaded from applying for an injunction to prevent McLeish taking up his new post and have not carried out their threat to report Villa to the Premier League.
Yet as soon as Villa confirmed that McLeish was to be their manager yesterday, Birmingham issued a belligerent statement underlining that nothing had changed.
“The fact that Alex McLeish has been appointed manager of Aston Villa does not, in any way, mean the legal dispute is over,” the club announced.
“Birmingham City maintains its stance and will vigorously pursue the matter. We are very disappointed with how the club and its fans have been treated by Mr McLeish after the way we have supported him over the years and we are still looking into whether Aston Villa’s conduct has been in line with Premier League rules. The matter is in the hands of our lawyers.”
While Villa may end up paying compensation, Birmingham may have to be content with around half of the €5.6 million they demanded. With McLeish’s appointment having been pushed through despite Birmingham’s objections and vociferous protests from Villa supporters, opposition to the move at Villa Park is beginning to die down now that fans have been presented with a fait accompli.
The Scot may not have been the manager many Villa fans wanted but now he is in position there is a sense that it might be better to work with him rather than against him.
McLeish acknowledged that he had to win over his new public but pledged to work hard to do so. “I am honoured to have the opportunity to manage a club with such a fantastic history,” he said.
“The heritage, success and tradition of Aston Villa are compelling and irresistible. I know some of our fans have voiced concerns and I can understand why.
“It will be up to me to convince people I am the right man to drive the club forward and I intend to give absolutely everything to prove I can be a success at the club.”
As full-time successor to Gerard Houllier, who had to step down after a health scare, McLeish becomes Villa’s third manager in under a year and the second appointment made since Randy Lerner became club owner.
Even the most disgruntled Villa fans will accept that the 52-year-old is a less risky choice than his predecessor, with a successful career in Scotland, relative youth on his side, a trophy won last season and immediate knowledge of the Premier League and the Birmingham area.
The Villa chief executive, Paul Faulkner, believes they have appointed the right man. “Unquestionably, Alex meets the criteria we set out at the beginning of our search, which was based on proven Premier League experience, leadership, a hard-working ethic and a shared vision for Aston Villa,” he said.
“Alex’s vast experience and proven abilities demonstrate clearly that he is a strong leader and an ambitious man, and someone with whom we will work closely and well.”
Guardian Service
