Mark Delaney set for new role at Aston Villa

Dec 7 2007 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARK Delaney has taken his first steps towards a career in coaching - and is set to return to Villa in the New Year to help out the Academy on a voluntary basis.

The 31-year-old spent eight-and-a-half years at Villa Park, playing 193 games, until he quit the game in the summer after failing to recover from a knee operation in the United States in January.

Delaney has already undertaken a one-week course with the PFA, held at Wolves' training ground, en-route to his Level 2 certificate.

His B license, or Level 3, to enable him to coach at Academy level should be completed this summer provided he gets the necessary hours on the training pitch under his belt.

And Villa have already given him the green light to return to Bodymoor Heath.

"Some players just want to cut themselves away from the sport when they finish, but I had eight great years and want to keep involved", he said today.

"I'm very grateful for any chance I get of putting something back. It's always something I have wanted to pursue."