Gerard Houllier leads the Villa race

Villa are poised to offer Gerard Houllier a shock return to England after the Frenchman emerged as the leading candidate to replace Martin O'Neill.

The former Liverpool manager is under serious consideration for a director of football role at Villa Park which would see current caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald retained as first-team coach, although he would be willing to work as boss in his own right.

Houllier was the stand-out performer in this week's interviews held by owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner and has jumped to 2/1 second favourite behind MacDonald with some bookmakers.

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has already been discounted, but MacDonald and former Charlton and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley remain in the running.

Yet it is the prospect of MacDonald and Houllier working in tandem which now looks the most likely scenario.

The Scotsman, who has been in charge for Villa's first five games, is widely regarded as a first-rate coach, but he himself admitted he was unsure whether he was cut out to be a manager before eventually putting his name forward.

Houllier also has a history of health problems - he suffered a heart attack while in the dugout at Liverpool - and an 'upstairs role' would ensure he is not exposed to all of the pressures which come with being a Premier League boss.

The 62-year-old is currently working for the French FA but has not been in a managerial post since leaving Lyon in 2007. His brief would include improving the scouting and recruitment policy.

His finest moment was leading the Reds to a UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is not under consideration despite him being left furious by vice-chairman Peter Pannu's "he's no Mourinho" jibe.

Roberto Donadoni's agent has revealed the former Italy chief is "very interested" in the vacancy ,but he looks to have be too late.