Aston Villa confirmed Alex McLeish as the club New Manager

Aston Villa have appointed Alex McLeish as their new manager following the departure of Gerard Houllier despite protests from fans over the Scotsman’s appointment following his three-and-a-half-year spell at St Andrew’s

The Scotsman had only resigned from his post as Birmingham City manager on Sunday, but has moved quickly to fill the managerial vacancy at Villa Park.

McLeish’s final season in charge of Birmingham had been one of mixed fortunes, with February’s League Cup victory bringing the club their first trophy in 48 years, only for his side to be relegated to the Championship three months later.

A number of individuals have been linked with the Aston Villa hotseat, with club owner Randy Lerner opting for McLeish despite continued speculation linking Mark Hughes with the job, and protests from the club's fans over the Scot's prospective appointment.

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, believe the right man had being appointed for the job and added that he meets the criteria the club set out at the beginning of the search which was based on proven Premier League experience, leadership, a hard-working ethic and, most importantly, a shared vision for Aston Villa.