Football: Houllier set to leave Villa

LONDON: Gerard Houllier is set to stand down as manager of Aston Villa following his latest health scare. “Houllier and Villa have reluctantly decided the 63-year-old should vacate his position with immediate effect following his recent heart scare,” the Birmingham Mail reported. The Frenchman, who underwent heart surgery when Liverpool manager a decade ago, missed the last month of the season. Caretaker boss Gary McAllister has said he was confident Houllier would return to his post and the 63-year-old has played his part in drawing up Villa’s plans for next season. But Villa insisted medical tests conducted on the manager before the weekend would determine his future.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2011.