O'Neill appointment sooner rather then later

Martin O'Neill will have to overcome one of the biggest challenges of his distinguished career if, as expected, he is appointed Aston Villa's new manager.

O'Neill was part of the Nottingham Forest side which defied the odds to win the European Cup twice.

Then as a manager he transformed an ordinary bunch of players at Leicester into an outfit which secured four successive top-10 finishes in the Premier League and won the League Cup twice.

It was a similar story at Celtic, whom he re-established as Scotland's number one side after they had played second fiddle to Rangers.

But reviving Villa will be as demanding a task as anything he has achieved during the past three decades as he looks set to replace David O'Leary as manager.

Villa quashed speculation that a new manager wold be announced on Tuesday - but it is expected to happen sooner rather than later.

A club spokesman told PA Sport on Tuesday evening: "The board of Aston Villa remain committed to appointing the best man for the job but the situation remains ongoing - and at present no announcement on a new manager is planned."

Villa chairman Doug Ellis has been intensifying his efforts to land O'Neill after being in regular contact with the Northern Irishman throughout the summer.

Even 10 years ago Villa were a regular top-six side but they have been in steady decline and last season just avoided relegation from the Premiership.