More turmoil for Villa as caretaker boss bows out

Kevin Phillips (R) of Aston Villa is chased by Kolo Toure of Arsenal during a premiership match at Highbury in north London, April 2006. A turbulent pre-season for Aston Villa, without a manager and immersed in takeover talks, got yet more confusing as caretaker manager Roy Aitken withdrew from a friendly tour due to ill health.

A turbulent pre-season for Aston Villa, without a manager and immersed in takeover talks, got yet more confusing as caretaker manager Roy Aitken withdrew from a friendly tour due to ill health.

Aitken was placed in charge when David O'Leary departed a fortnight ago following an internal investigation into a statement criticising the club, allegedly put together by players.

Aitken is currently recovering from surgery to remove a tumour following a routine check-up earlier in the summer and has withdrawn from the club's pre-season tour of Germany and Holland on medical advice.

"When the manager left a couple of weeks ago, I was asked to take temporary charge and I came back to work earlier than I should have," Aitken said.

"But a pre-season tour, with all it entails, is a step too far at this stage and it's probably best that I leave it to people who are fully fit and able to work to full capacity."

Goalkeeping coach Eric Steele will take charge for the tour, the club announced.

Aston Villa remain in chaos just a fortnight before the start of the new Premiership season, with four separate groups hoping to buy the club from veteran chairman Doug Ellis.

The favourite remains US billionaire Randy Lerner, owner of the Cleveland Browns NFL franchise, despite his public withdrawal after talks with Ellis stalled.

According to a series of reports, highly regarded former Leicester and Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is poised to be named manager, an appointment that would delight Villas fans.

However, O'Neill is thought to still be considering his options amid the uncertainty over ownership.

The situation simplified slightly on Wednesday with the news that two rival consortiums, one led by life-long Villa fan Michael Neville and one headed by a judge, Nicholas Padfield, might join forces.

The fourth consortium is fronted by Athole Still, the agent of ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.