OPINION
The top brass at Aston Villa know how important their decision over who fills the void left by former manager Steve Bruce will be – and the wrong individual stepping into the role could end in tears.
The Villans might have strategically gotten rid of the former Hull City boss just before the international break to give themselves the chance to sit down and assess the situation thoroughly, rather than being forced to make a quick decision in the middle of a game week.
With two weeks between fixtures, they have to make that tough decision as who to target and try to convince to move to Villa Park, and according to reports they are being seriously ambitious.
The Daily Record claim that they are hoping to arrange talks with Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers – who won three trophies with the Hoops last season – this week, but it is another name in the report which should have the Villa faithful excited.
Step forward Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, who has the Cherries flying high in the top flight of English football.
The 40-year-old has been with the south coast outfit since 2012 and has built the club up as Premier League mainstays, having guided them from the Championship as plucky underdogs.
Sitting sixth in the table heading into the international break, it would be a serious coup for Villa to snap him away from Bournemouth but the club chiefs obviously want to make a big appointment, and Howe fits the bill.
Young but experienced, he has shown he has the talent to work on a limited budget and get the very best out of his players – something that, despite the quality in the squad, has not been done at Villa Park so far.
It would be a shock for him to drop into the second division, but if Villa want to make waves, they need Howe on board, for he could be the long-term leader needed to take the club back to the Premier League.