Martin O'Neill is set to be announced as the new Aston Villa manager today, ending weeks of speculation linking the Irishman with the vacancy. Talks between O'Neill and the Villa chairman Doug Ellis have reached an advanced stage with the former Celtic and Leicester manager's arrival all but assured.

O'Neill is expected to confirm he will accept the post this morning and will be formally introduced to the Villa players tomorrow before their first pre-season fixture in Germany. It is understood that Villa's backroom staff were made aware of O'Neill's appointment yesterday morning.

Ellis has been under pressure to deliver O'Neill ever since David O'Leary parted company with Villa little more than two weeks ago following the notorious players' statement. He was the Villa chairman's number-one target from that moment, although the possibility of O'Neill taking the position without the club's ownership being resolved appeared remote.

It was thought O'Neill would wait until he received assurances about Ellis selling his stake in the club before stepping forward. However, with takeover talks proving painfully slow O'Neill felt compelled to make a decision.

Had O'Neill waited any longer he would have faced the prospect of taking over a rudderless team in September or October. That scenario is hardly appealing given that the transfer window would have closed, Villa have failed to bring in any new players hitherto and morale within the current squad has been affected by the turbulent events of the last few weeks.

Instead, by agreeing to take charge immediately, O'Neill has given himself around two weeks to galvanise Villa in time for their first match of the season at Arsenal on August 19th.

Accomplishing a smooth start will be no easy task given the turmoil that has engulfed the club for the past three weeks, although his presence should imbue fresh belief in not only the players but also the supporters.

The only fear among some Villa fans will be that Ellis, having lured O'Neill to the club without agreeing to relinquish control, could be tempted to stay on for another year. He has showed no sign that he is a willing seller during the takeover race that has been played out since O'Leary left, and with O'Neill at the helm the 82-year-old chairman might be encouraged to stay on.

Negotiations are continuing with Randy Lerner, who had earmarked O'Neill as the next Villa manager in the event of gaining control, and it is possible that the American billionaire could conclude a deal for the club by this time next week.

O'Neill has been kept informed of Lerner's progress and, with that in mind, might well have felt confident, although not by any means certain, that he would be working under Ellis for only a short period. It is gamble that could backfire if Ellis decides to prolong his reign at the club, the possibility of which cannot be ruled out.

It is understood that the Villa chairman informed Roy Aitken he was confident O'Neill would be in place by the weekend. Aitken had arrived at Villa Park to seek assurances about his own future but departed knowing that he would soon have no role at the club.

That news prompted the caretaker manager to inform Ellis that he would be returning to his duties as an assistant manager with immediate effect and withdrawing from the nine-day pre-season trip to Germany and Holland on the grounds that there was no reason to compromise his health, as he recently had a cancer scare that necessitated an operation.

The Villa board then decided that goalkeeping coach Eric Steele would accompany the players with two physiotherapists. Steele was duly informed that O'Neill will arrive on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho is upset by what he has called a lack of respect shown by France defender William Gallas in failing to report for their preseason US tour.

Gallas, who said in May he wanted to leave the club, is in trouble after the 28-year-old did not join up with the rest of the squad in Los Angeles.

Asked about the effect of his absence, Mourinho said yesterday: "It's not only me that is upset - we're all upset.

"Everybody is upset because we had a strong family and a strong group and this has shown a lack of respect to everybody. And I don't like that."

The club, who are considering what action to take, if any, over the no-show, have now given the Frenchman's favourite number 13 shirt to new signing Michael Ballack.

Gallas, who has failed to secure a regular slot in his preferred centre back role, is also in the middle of contract negotiations with the club.

He has a year left on his current deal. Chelsea are expected to deploy Ballack and fellow new signing Andriy Shevchenko against an MLS All-Stars team in a friendly this weekend in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Valencia have reportedly offered Manchester United £17 million plus veteran defender Roberto Ayala for Cristiano Ronaldo. The Manchester Evening News have said the Spanish club have launched a bid but United are unlikely to be swayed by the offer of a 33-year-old centre half as a makeweight in the deal.

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini has admitted that Marcos Senna is edging closer to a move to Manchester United.

Although the Brazil-born midfield battler is happy to remain in Spain, the two clubs are close to agreeing a deal.

"In the case of Marcos, nothing is 100 per cent finalised," explained Pellegrini to Marca. "This is a great opportunity for him but, for us, it is going to be a great footballing loss if he does end up going.

The 30-year-old was included in Spain's World Cup squad and impressed during Villarreal's Champions League run, as they helped knock United out along the way to the semi-finals.

Guardian Service