MacDonald looks to make Villa job his own

Kevin MacDonald will be given a chance to stake a strong claim to become Martin O’Neill’s successor as manager of Aston Villa – with at least four games in charge as caretaker boss.

O’Neill quit on Monday, reportedly unhappy at not being guaranteed sufficient funds to spend on new players.

Now reserve team coach MacDonald will be in charge against West Ham United in Villa’s Premier League opener on Saturday.

He will also be given both legs of their Europa League qualifier against Rapid Vienna and the Premier League trip to Newcastle United to prove to owner Randy Lerner he has the credentials to make the step up.

MacDonald’s appointment is a popular one among Villa fans who want to see the man who has won the reserve league for the last three seasons get a fair opportunity at a higher level, even if he could be without James Milner for his opening fixture.

Milner is expected to complete his transfer to Manchester City in the next 24 hours and Villa could also be losing Ashley Young to either Everton or Tottenham, who have both expressed an interest in the winger who impressed as a second half substitute for England against Hungary at Wembley on Wednesday.

But MacDonald is still relishing his chance to underline his own credentials for the post, saying: “Everyone starts with a fresh slate, of course.

“You have to remember too that, having worked with a lot of the young players over the years, I’ll look on them as potential players.

“It’s not just the first team squad – there’s also a group of youngsters that are knocking on the door of that first team squad. Who knows what might happen’,” he said.

MacDonald also praised O’Neill for instilling a “winning mentality” throughout the club during his four-year reign, adding: “We have had the winning mentality with the reserves but it’s important to realise that’s been with the first team too over the past few seasons.

“We have finished sixth three years in a row. Whether it’s come from the first team, from the former manager (O’Neill) down to ourselves and the youth team, we have had it there.”

While Villa search for a new manager, West Ham are positively stable by comparison under new manager Avram Grant, the former Portsmouth boss.

But Hammers owner David Sullivan wants to add more players to the squad, although he has shelved interest in Everton striker Yakubu.

“Avram is the perfect manager for us,” said O’Sullivan. “He has the same vision as ourselves but is prepared to work within the financial restraints that we have at this time unlike another manager on our list when we were looking who wanted 30 million pounds to spend.

“That was unrealistic but I should say we’ve already spent eight million pounds and added the same amount to the wage bill.”

Sullivan, accused of meddling during his uneasy relationship with former manager Gianfranco Zola last season, added: “We won’t be interfering with Avram. Of the next 20 players we sign, 18 will be his choice.”