Caretaker Aitken eager to take Villa hot seat

ROY AITKEN is eager to succeed David O’Leary as Aston Villa manager but Alan Curbishley is believed to be chairman Doug Ellis’s number one target.

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.