US coach Bradley ´keen to manage Aston Villa´

United States coach Bob Bradley would be honoured to manage Aston Villa, he told the BBC.

Bradley, who led the United States to the last 16 of the World Cup, has had no formal talks with Villa’s American owner Randy Lerner but his representatives have made contact with the club, he said.

Asked on BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme whether he would be interested in the job, Bradley said: “Of course, I think Aston Villa is a massive club with great history and a great following and those type of opportunities would of course be of interest.

“I would certainly be honoured to have that conversation but I’m impressed with the way things have been handled so far and we’ll see what the future holds.”

Villa play Newcastle at St James’ Park this afternoon bidding for their second win of the Premier League season with caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald in charge.

Bradley, 52, has a contract with the United States which runs until the end of the year, but he is ambitious to manage in Europe.

“I’ve always been excited about being a manager in Europe but at the same time I’m proud of the work we’ve done with the US team over the last four years. It is important to consider that as a challenge as well. So we’ll see what happens.,” he said.

“There have been discussions with some of my representatives to at least find out the situation but Aston Villa seem to have taken a good stance where they have been patient.

“They have a very good man in Kevin MacDonald who is highly respected in the club so I think on the one hand they are probably putting a list together and on the other making sure Kevin has the time to consider his future as well. It has been handled very well.

“I had some people do some checking just to find out where things stood,” Bradley said.

Meanwhile Martin O’Neill, who resigned as Aston Villa manager earlier this month, is poised to return to Nottingham Forest, the News of the World reported.

O’Neill has emerged as the shock front-runner to succeed Billy Davies if he quits the City Ground, the newspaper said.