Sven-Goran Eriksson wants Villa job

Sven-Goran Eriksson is eager to become Villa's next manager - as owner Randy Lerner today began picking up the pieces from Martin O'Neill's shock exit.

The Express & Star understands former England manager Eriksson is keen to get back into work since leaving his post as Ivory Coast coach after the World Cup and would jump at the chance to take over a club of Villa's stature.

Lerner is still believed to be drawing up his list of candidates to replace O'Neill, who stunned the club yesterday when he walked out just five days before the start of the new campaign.

Ajax manager Martin Jol, former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann, a close friend of Lerner, and Eriksson are all in the running.

The vastly-experienced Swede, who led England to two World Cup quarter-finals during his five-year tenure from 2001 to 2006, has already once claimed he would be ready to take over at Villa after he was a victim of the 'fake sheikh' sting by a Sunday newspaper in 2006.

But his would be likely to be greeted with a mixed reaction by supporters with the 62-year-old having never been far from off-field controversy during his time with England.

As for O'Neill, the manager's surprise departure is believed to have been prompted by a disagreement with the chairman over how much money from the sale of James Milner would be made available for transfers.

Reports linking his exit with bids being accepted from Tottenham for Ashley Young and Fulham for goalkeeper Brad Friedel are wide of the mark.

But relations between Lerner and O'Neill did become increasingly strained this year, with the manager forced to deny rumours he had quit towards the end of last season.

The Northern Irishman, who arrived in 2006, became particularly frustrated by the sell-to-buy policy enforced by Lerner, who had backed O'Neill in previous summers.

Milner's move to Manchester City is still expected to go ahead this week, with Villa still in talks to take Stephen Ireland in part-exchange despite O'Neill's exit.

Reserve team boss Kevin MacDonald is in caretaker charge for Saturday's opener against West Ham.