Aston Villa: Kevin MacDonald still favourite for Villa job ahead of interview process next week
Aug 24 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
KEVIN MacDonald is still the leading candidate to fill Villa’s managerial vacancy on a permanent basis – despite Sunday’s 6-0 shocker at St James’ Park.
MacDonald will be in charge of Thursday’s Europa League qualifier second leg against Rapid Vienna and Sunday’s Premier League clash with Everton.
And the claret and blue hierarchy will not begin to formally speak to his rival contenders until next week when the forthcoming home games are out of the way.
Bookies’ favourites Bob Bradley, Jurgen Klinsmann and Ronald Koeman have all but been ruled out of the running to succeed Martin O’Neill in the Villa Park hotseat.
Far from being put off by MacDonald’s credentials after Sunday’s embarrassing defeat to Newcastle, Villa’s power-brokers were impressed with the caretaker’s response.
The temporarily-promoted reserve team boss bravely took the rap for the heavy losing margin and admitted he might have been a bit ‘naive’ with his team selection.
But MacDonald spoke to chairman Randy Lerner at Bodymoor Heath yesterday and he and chief executive Paul Faulkner hope Sunday’s scoreline was a freak result.
