Villa delay for Gerard Houllier

New Villa manager Gerard Houllier will not be in the dugout for Monday's trip to Stoke.

Former Liverpool boss Houllier will not take over the reins until the middle of next week, meaning caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald will be in charge for a sixth game.

The Frenchman will be unveiled as Martin O'Neill's replacement at a press conference this afternoon but, having only resigned as French Football Federation technical director hours before his appointment on Wednesday, he still has loose ends to tie up back in his homeland.

Houllier and MacDonald, who was also interviewed for the manager's job, were due to meet this morning during the 63-year-old's first official visit to Bodymoor Heath to discuss plans for the Potters clash as well as the future of the Scot, whose role at Villa has been unclear since he missed out on becoming Villa's new boss.

Former Reds boss Houllier's first game in charge will now be the Premier League home game against Bolton tomorrow week.

And he revealed he turned down other offers before agreeing to manage Villa.

He said: "It was starting to tickle me, I really wanted to go back pitchside! I had, of course, other proposals but this one seemed to be the most interesting to me in terms of environment and working conditions.

"Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool, let's be objective and honest.

"It's a club that, according to me, has belonged between seventh and 12th place in the Premier League. But above all it's a historic club which won the European Cup. It's a club which has got very good infrastructure and a fine team which is only after one thing - to improve year on year."

MK Dons insist Villa have made no contact regarding Dietmar Hamann despite the German being linked with a place in Houllier's backroom staff.

Boss Karl Robinson said: "I spoke to him after I heard about it and he's had no contact whatsoever and is extremely happy here."

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has backed his former Liverpool manager to be a hit at Villa.

He said: "Aston Villa have got themselves a very good manager. I am not surprised Gerard has come back into the Premier League. His health won't be a problem."

By Brendan McLoughlin