Ghost of Pongo Waring

After signing McLeish last year that''d be par for the course.You would think that if they want to go along the DoF route they''d have a new manager sounded out who''d be happy with that but it wouldn''t shock me if that wasn''t the case.

Comolli was reported to be at Villa for the Spurs game. Might be Benitez is back in the frame then if Comolli is appointed.Sounds like Lambert is very much like MON, so if it is the case with the DoF then I''d guess Lambert isn''t our target.

Thanks God he''s gone, it''s a bit early but I feel a scotch is in order.  Hopefully we''ll actually try to win games now.A local journalist has tweeted that we''ll have a Director of Football in place within a couple of days. Whether this makes Paul Lambert a more or less likely candidate I don''t know but I couldn''t see MON working under a DOF and Lambert is close to MON.

Yes ''Prepared'' is Villas motto and you''re right Lerner needs to live up to it.Maybe the quick sacking of McLeish is showing that they''re being more decisive because both our clubs need to know where they stand.

Benitez wanted the job last season but apparently insisted on a large budget, while the club were trying to make savings. If we are in a better position financially now it might happen. There was also talk in Merseyside that Moyes had agreed to come to Villa last season but Villa wouldn''t pay the 7 million Everton wanted to release him. If thats true, and it was an Everton friend who told me, then it''s quite ironic when you consider McLeish cost us 2 million and has lost the club millions more in league prize money and ticket sales. If we wouldn''t go the extra mile to pay for Moyes last season I can''t see him agreeing to come now.I think after Martinez, Benetiz, and possibly Moyes, were ruled out they panicked as the season was approaching and they didn''t want to go into a new season without a manager in place, as happened with Houllier.My money would be on Martinez. He wanted to show loyalty to Wigan, which is credit to the man, but if we go for him again he might feel he''s taken Wigan as far as he can and has done right by Wigan by staying another year.I''m not wanting to depress anyone but one constant in our search for managers is that Lerner and Faulkner don''t rush things. We took weeks to sign both Houllier and McLeish so I don''t think the situation is going to be resolved soon.Hopefully they''ve learnt their lessons and things will be sorted quicker this time.

Hi.Firstly congratulations on a great season. Unfortunately for you it''ll mean a summer of speculation about your players and, obviously, your manager. McLeish will certainly be leaving, the meetings finished and it''s just a case of us waiting for the official announcement but personally I don''t think Paul Lambert will be our next manager.In many ways he''ll be a perfect choice. The problem Villa have got isn''t transfer funds but an issue with wages. When MON left it was reported that wages were over 80% of income so they had to be cut back. Paul Lambert has built a good, entertaining squad at Norwich with players from the lower leagues and their wages will be less than the ''Premiership'' players signed by Villa. Also the squad has massively under achieved this season and Lambert, like MON, seems to be a good motivator and would get the squad playing to it''s potential again.However Lerner and Faulkner haven''t got a very good track record as far as managers go. MON was signed by Doug Ellis before the takeover, Houllier was a manager with health problems who''d been out of management for a while. McLeish was just an unbelievable signing.His record at blues was two relegations in three seasons and the football was abysmal. Even though they won only the second major trophy in their history last season I don''t know a single blues fan who was upset when he walked out.I just can''t see them making such an good choice as Lambert. Thats not to say Lambert would come even if they were make an approach. Our wage issue is better now and there has been talk that we''ll be rebuilding this summer but without knowing how much will be available it''s hard to say how attractive it is to another manager.He may well decide that the challenge at Norwich is better for him or he may decide that he can progress his career more at Villa. He might not even be in Lerner and Faulkners plans at all. Whatever the outcome I hope Norwich become an established Prem club. Had some good away days at Norwich and your fans have always been decent.Thanks as well for the support of Petrov in the 19th minute.