O’Neill set to announce his decision on Aston Villa job today

MARTIN O’NEILL is set to announce today whether he has decided to become Aston Villa’s new manager.

Sources close to the Irishman are indicating he is edging close to agreeing to move to the under-achieving Premiership club.

Former Celtic boss O’Neill has been chairman Doug Ellis’ number one target since David O’Leary parted company with Villa just over a fortnight ago.

But it is goalkeeping coach Eric Steele who has been put in charge of team affairs when Villa fly out for a pre-season tour of Germany and Holland this morning

Former Manchester City player Steele will replace caretaker manager Roy Aitken who has withdrawn to continue his recovery from recent surgery.

Aitken, who was O’Leary’s number two, has been in charge of all of Villa’s pre-season games to date.

The Scot said: “When the manager left a couple of weeks ago, I was asked to take temporary charge and I came back to work earlier than I should have.

“But a pre-season tour, with all it entails, is a step too far at this stage and it’s probably best that I leave it to people who are fully fit and able to work to full capacity.

“The chairman Doug Ellis has been very fair and supports my decision to take a back seat for a few weeks and put my own health first.”

Steele has taken on a greater coaching role at Bodymoor Heath since O’Leary’s departure and is a popular and respected member of the backroom staff.

O’Neill would be the number one choice with fans and would find favour with the four consortiums currently bidding to take control of Villa.

But the former Celtic boss is not known for being rail-roaded into making quick decisions when it comes to potential employers.

O’Neill has spoken on several occasions with Ellis and has observed the pros and cons of the consortia in the hunt to take over at Villa.

It is more likely he will fly out to join up with the tour next week if he decides the Villa job is right for him and he has assurances from Ellis over the direction the club will be heading.

The consortium headed by American billionaire Randy Lerner is believed to still be in pole position after the owner of NFL side Cleveland Browns re-activated his interest in Villa.

But Lerner faces competition from the group fronted by agent Athole Still plus the consortiums of Michael Neville and Nicolas Padfield QC.

Neville and Padfield are poised to meet for talks when the latter returns from holiday in Corsica at the weekend.