Caretaker Aitken eager to take Villa hot seat
After three years as assistant to O’Leary at Villa Park, Aitken has been handed the reins on a temporary basis following the 48-year-old Irishman’s departure last night.
The former Aberdeen boss only returned to training on Tuesday after undergoing surgery earlier this summer following a cancer scare.
The Scot described himself as being “not 100%” and admitted he would “have to take it easy for a few weeks” but now finds himself in the middle of a maelstrom at the club.
Although Aitken has not been a manager himself since a two-year spell at Aberdeen ended in 1997, the 48-year-old is refusing to rule himself out of the running.
“I’ve got my own track record in management up in Scotland. I won a trophy with Aberdeen and I know what the job is all about,” Aitken told Villa’s official website.
“I’m not fazed by this. Now I’ll just concentrate on getting the players ready for our pre-season games.” The first of those is today against Walsall.
Aitken insists there is no need for him to pull the players together despite what appear to be conflicting views regarding the statement that sparked the furore over the past few days.
While Aitken’s appointment would certainly represent the cheap option to Ellis, former Villa player Curbishley is likely to be the preferred candidate.
Curbishley walked away from Charlton at the end of last season after 15 years claiming he wanted a year off but the lure of resurrecting Villa may prove irresistible.
Inevitably, former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has been mentioned.
Reserve team and Ireland coach Kevin MacDonald and youth team coach Gordon Cowans have also been linked with the job.
Meanwhile sources close to O’Leary yesterday claimed the Irishman had received a full compensation package covering the remaining two years of his contract rather than a pay-off worth only six months’ salary as has been suggested.
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