Gary McAllister a step closer to Villa

Gary McAllister will move closer to becoming Villa's new assistant manager today – as the club confirmed Gerard Houllier's first game in charge will be against Blackburn.

Sources in the North-East have confirmed Boro are already resigned to McAllister's departure, with the Scot desperate to link up with new boss Houllier after enjoying a successful spell under him as a player at Liverpool.

Strachan, who confirmed "interest" from Villa on Monday, will hold talks with McAllister today but will not stand in the way of the former Coventry manager moving to Villa Park.

It has now been confirmed Houllier, who missed Monday's game at Stoke while he finalised his exit from the French Football Federation, will assume a watching brief from the stands for Saturday's Bolton clash – current caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald will again be in the dugout – before taking control for the Carling Cup clash against Blackburn a week today.

And the Frenchman will want McAllister alongside him in the Villa Park dugout for that game.

The pair were reacquainted only last week at Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher's testimonial, which McAllister played in.

McAllister is the fourth person to be offered the post after Phil Thompson, Patrice Bergues and current caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald all turned it down.

Another one of Houllier's former midfielders at Liverpool, Dietmar Hamann, was also believed to be in the running but the German, currently a player-coach at MK Dons, is eager to continue his playing career for as long as possible.

MacDonald has been at the helm since Martin O'Neill quit five days before the start of the campaign and will again be in charge for Saturday's Bolton clash.

Having missed Monday's game at Stoke, Houllier - who is currently in his homeland finalising his exit from the French Football Federation - is expected to take a watching brief from the stands at the weekend.

Although unable to offer any concrete guarantees, his first game in charge is currently pencilled in for the Carling Cup clash against Blackburn a week today and the Frenchman will want McAllister alongside him in the Villa Park dugout for that game.

And captain Stiliyan Petrov says the Villa dressing room are looking forward to a chaotic spell at the club coming to an end.

He said: "It is complicated. Complicated for the new manager, complicated for Kev, but there is a solution and we will see the new manager soon. He has been at the top level for a long time. He knows what he needs to do.

"Are the players looking forward to stability? Yes."