Aston Villa rounded off a miserable season yesterday losing 2-0 at Carrow Road.
Aston Villa fans are baying for blood, and the only way they will be happy this summer is if their Scottish manager leaves the club.
The Times have reported he has left the club this morning, and most supporters will not care which way this happens; McLeish falling on his sword, or Randy Lerner wielding the axe.
After the match yesterday it sounded like there was not seem to be much prospect of the manager walking away.
“I might not have had the riches to spend of other managers, but believe I can turn Aston Villa around by adding quality and players who are going to work their socks off.”
Should he be given time to put his plan into action? Well having the fans on side is half the battle, and that is one he has already lost. It seems that the board have listened.
Fed up with his brand of dour football, supporters are staying away in their thousands, and money talks.
There have been fan protests on a relatively small scale from those who are still there, but should he have stayed next season and results do not improve, the protests would only have increased.
Keeping McLeish is more of a gamble than sacking him now. Getting rid now gives a new man proper time to bring in their own players and get their feet fully under the table before the new season starts.
If Randy Lerner hesitated and did not act this summer, he may find his hand forced in the Autumn. Bad results and fan protests will leave him with little option but to get rid and save Villa’s season.
The danger with this is as Wolves found out, rushing into bringing in a new manager is not so easy. Sunderland lucked out with Martin O’Neill, but a couple of seasons ago Villa had to hastily appoint a manager, and ended up with Gerard Houllier.
Not that taking their time last summer worked any better, McLeish this season has been uninspiring and infuriating, but if Lerner is going to make a move, surely right now is the time to do it.
Despite finishing 16th, his record of just seven league wins is the 19th best in the division. Sure they have drawn a lot, but this simply says a lot about McLeish’s dismal brand of football which is frustrating the masses.
If he stays, fans probably won’t have either hope or expectation next season. Over to you Randy… we are just waiting for the news to be confirmed…
image: © Ben Sutherland
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
