Houllier in line to take over at Villa Park
Tuesday, 7 September 2010 13:46Gerrard Houllier is due to meet French Football Federation president Fernando Duchaussoy on Wednesday amid reports that he is set to become Aston Villa's new manager.
Duchaussoy will speak to the former Liverpool and Lyon manager when he returns from France's Euro 2012 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Houllier, currently the national technical director of French football, is expected to confirm he wants to return to English football and become Martin O'Neill's successor at Villa Park.
'I will meet Wednesday to take stock of the situation with him [Houllier], I'll ask him,' Duchaussoy told reporters.
'I would like to continue working with him.'
Houllier, 63, is set to join Villa as manager rather than in a director of football-type position.
Villa would like caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald to stay involved in the first team set-up in a coaching role.
But the former Liverpool player will have the final say on whether he wants this sort of involvement or would prefer instead to return to being in charge of the reserve team.
Houllier created a favourable impression with Villa owner Randy Lerner after being interviewed by the American multi-millionaire.
Houllier left Anfield six years ago and has been employed as France's technical director since parting company with Lyon in 2007.
He enjoyed considerable initial success with the Reds and led them to a UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001.
Villa believe he has the reputation and CV to keep Villa on an upward curve after three successive top-six finishes in the Barclays Premier League.
Before he moved to Liverpool, he also enjoyed title success with Paris St Germain and spent a decade overseeing the development of French football.
Former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley and MacDonald have also been interviewed for the post by Lerner and Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner.
