O’Neill favourite for Villa job as Lerner bid likely to prevail

RANDY LERNER’S re-emergence as a major contender to buy Aston Villa could pave the way for Martin O’Neill to be appointed manager sooner rather than later.

American billionaire Lerner had been expected to tie up a £64 million deal last week with Villa chairman Doug Ellis, only for talks to break down.

Sources claimed O’Neill was understood to have been “shocked” by the apparent collapse of the bid by Lerner, owner of NFL side the Cleveland Browns.