England Premier League Media

Alan Curbishley is among the candidates to be interviewed for the vacant manager’s post at Aston Villa, BBC Sport understands.

The 52-year-old has been out of the game since parting company with West Ham in September 2008.

Former Ajax boss Ronald Koeman said earlier this week that he is interested in the job vacated by Martin O’Neill.

Caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald has also indicated he would like to be considered for the role.

Reserve-team coach MacDonald, 49, has overseen the first five games of the season after manager O’Neill’s sudden resignation in July.

Villa have said that they want to appoint a manager with Premier League experience.

Curbishley spent 15 years with Charlton but moved to West Ham in December 2006.

After leaving the Hammers, he won a case for constructive dismissal against them.

He joined Villa as a player from Birmingham in 1983 and made 36 appearances for the club.

Villa are to speak to other candidates before making an appointment, which they hope will come before the next match at Stoke on Monday, 13 September.

Former Ajax boss Ronald Koeman has said he is interested in becoming Aston Villa’s new manager and claims the club contacted his agent last week.

Villa are yet to name Martin O’Neill’s successor, with Kevin MacDonald currently occupying the role on a caretaker basis.

“Of course I am interested to listen to everybody,” Koeman told BBC Sport.

Earlier on Tuesday, MacDonald also said he wished to be considered for the job on a permanent basis.

MacDonald had been undecided as to whether he wanted the role, but has now put himself into consideration.

The 49-year-old reserve-team coach has overseen the first five games of the season after manager O’Neill’s sudden resignation in July.

And later on Tuesday, former Netherlands defender Koeman, who also managed PSV Eindhoven, Valencia, Benfica and was assistant at Barcelona and the Dutch national team, threw his hat into the ring.

Koeman, 47, is currently out of a job having left AZ Alkmaar.

“There was a contact with my agent but nothing more than that, about one week ago or something,” said Koeman.

“Until now I didn’t know anything about that. If they are interested they can call me.”

Villa said at the weekend that they wanted to appoint someone in the near future with Premier League experience, appearing to limit Koeman’s chances of getting the job.

But the Dutchman still believes he has the attributes to manage the club.

“If they are looking for a manager with Premier League experience then of course I cannot come,” added Koeman. “I have enough experience but not in English football.

“I think I would do a good job, I think I have enough experience in the last 10 years after working in Holland, where I was league champion, and working in Portugal, Spain…in that case my experience is enough.”

As well as Koeman and MacDonald, other names linked to the job include Everton manager David Moyes and former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Although he thinks his time at the helm will add weight to his case, MacDonald believes that he may not be the strongest candidate for the job.

“Who says I will be chosen? Whoever gets interviewed, if they come up with the right solution on how to take the club forward, that would be the right person for the job,” he said on Sunday.

“It would help me being in the position. That would put me in a more favourable position than people who come in from the outside.

“But you then are going to look at people to be interviewed who have got a lot more experience, have won things and have done it at the highest level as well.”

The former Liverpool player has received backing from several of Villa’s players including captain Stiliyan Petrov.

And Wales centre-back James Collins told BBC Sport why he hopes MacDonald gets the job on a full-time basis.

“Kev has been at the club a long time and has done a great job since he stepped in,” said Collins.

“He has done great and all the boys respect him and has got the team playing well.

“And I’m sure he is in there with as good a chance as any.”

MacDonald’s only previous managerial experience is a four-game spell as caretaker boss of Leicester in 1994.

Under his leadership, Villa have been knocked out of the Europa League by Rapid Vienna and were thrashed 6-0 by Newcastle.

But victories over West Ham and Everton have put Villa fourth in

the early Premier League standings.

Moyes, in the opposing dug-out for the Toffees’ 1-0 defeat on Sunday, has emerged as a surprise contender for the role.

His odds of taking over at Villa Park fell dramatically on Monday.

Everton are yet to register a Premier League win this campaign and ended eighth in the table last season after three consecutive top-six finishes.

Eriksson has been without a job since he failed to take Ivory Coast beyond the group stage of this summer’s World Cup.

The Swede, who was sacked as Manchester City boss in 2008 after one year in charge, had been employed on a short-term contract for the tournament.

Other names reportedly under consideration include former Villa captain Gareth Southgate and Frenchman Gerard Houllier.

Fulham manager Mark Hughes has also been mentioned despite only taking up the Craven Cottage reins in July.

Early frontrunner Bob Bradley ended speculation he could in line for the job by signing a four-year extension to stay on as United States coach.

The 52-year-old had previously said he would be “honoured” to be considered by fellow American and Villa owner Randy Lerner.

Aston Villa caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald wishes to be considered for the job on a permanent basis.

The 49-year-old reserve-team coach has overseen the first five games of the season after manager Martin O’Neil’s sudden resignation in July.

MacDonald, who had been undecided as to whether he wanted the role, has now put himself into consideration.

Other names linked to the job include Everton manager David Moyes and former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Although he thinks his time at the helm will add weight to his case, MacDonald believes that he may not be the strongest candidate for the job.

“Who says I will be chosen? Whoever gets interviewed, if they come up with the right solution on how to take the club forward, that would be the right person for the job,” he said on Sunday.

“It would help me being in the position. That would put me in a more favourable position than people who come in from the outside.

“But you then are going to look at people to be interviewed who have got a lot more experience, have won things and have done it at the highest level as well.”

The former Liverpool player has received backing from several of Villa’s players including captain Stiliyan Petrov.

And Wales centre-back James Collins told BBC Sport why he hopes MacDonald gets the job on a full-time basis.

“Kev has been at the club a long time and has done a great job since he stepped in,” said Collins.

“He has done great and all the boys respect him and has got the team playing well.

“And I’m sure he is in there with as good a chance as any.”

MacDonald’s only previous managerial experience is a four-game spell as caretaker boss of Leicester in 1994.

Under his leadership, Villa have been knocked out of the Europa League by Rapid Vienna and were thrashed 6-0 by Newcastle.

But victories over West Ham and Everton have put Villa fourth in

the early Premier League standings.

Moyes, in the opposing dug-out for the Toffees’ 1-0 defeat on Sunday, has emerged as a surprise contender for the role.

His odds of taking over at Villa Park fell dramatically on Monday.

Everton are yet to register a Premier League win this campaign and ended eighth in the table last season after three consecutive top-six finishes.

Eriksson has been without a job since he failed to take Ivory Coast beyond the group stage of this summer’s World Cup.

The Swede, who was sacked as Manchester City boss in 2008 after one year in charge, had been employed on a short-term contract for the tournament.

Other names reportedly under consideration include former Villa captain Gareth Southgate and Frenchman Gerard Houllier.

Fulham manager Mark Hughes has also been mentioned despite only taking up the Craven Cottage reins in July.

Early frontrunner Bob Bradley ended speculation he could in line for the job by signing a four-year extension to stay on as United States coach.

The 52-year-old had previously said he would be “honoured” to be considered by fellow American and Villa owner Randy Lerner.

Bob Bradley has signed a new four-year extension to his contract as United States coach, ending speculation linking him with the Aston Villa job.

The 52-year-old told BBC Sport last week that he would be “honoured” to talk to Villa owner Randy Lerner about succeeding Martin O’Neill as manager.

However, Bradley, who took the US to round two of the 2010 World Cup, will now stay beyond the 2014 finals.

“Bob is honoured to be the US coach. He is very happy,” said Bradley’s agent.

Bradley, who replaced Bruce Arena as coach after the 2006 World Cup has won 38, lost 20 and drawn eight of his 66 games in charge.

At this year’s finals in South Africa, he led his side to draws with England and Slovenia before beating Algeria 1-0 to top Group C and reach the knockout stages where they were beaten 2-1 by Ghana.

A statement on ussoccer.com

confirmed: “The agreement with Bradley, who guided the US team to numerous achievements including finishing in first place in their group at the 2010 Fifa World Cup for the first time in 80 years, will keep him at the helm through the end of 2014.”

Bradley’s contract with the national team had been due to run until the end of the year but after his team impressed at the World Cup he was mentioned as a serious contender for the vacant Villa post.

O’Neill quit as Villa manager earlier in August

and reserve team manager Kevin MacDonald was put in charge on a temporary basis.

Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and ex-Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier are also in the frame, while former Villa captain Gareth Southgate has also been linked to the job.

Aston Villa have appeared to rule out caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald taking the vacant manager’s position.

MacDonald has been in charge since Martin O’Neill resigned on 9 August and said after Sunday’s win over Everton he is undecided about taking the job.

But Villa said they wanted to appoint someone in the near future with Premier League experience with MacDonald to continue “until that time”.

MacDonald has seen his side win two out of three Premier League games.

But Villa were also thumped 6-0 by Newcastle and knocked out of the Europa League, with star midfielder James Milner also leaving the club for Manchester City.

Even though MacDonald said he would speak to Villa owner Randy Lerner by Tuesday to let him know whether he wanted to take the job on a permanent basis, the club’s chief executive Paul Faulkner issued a statement on Sunday evening to explain the board’s plans.

In it, Faulkner seemed to underline that MacDonald was appointed as a caretaker only and the club would appoint a new manager in the “near future” following an interview process.

But the insistence on someone with experience of managing in the Premier League could also spell the end for United States coach Bob Bradley’s hopes who has admitted he would be interested in the Villa job.

Other names linked with the post have included former Ajax boss Ronald Koeman.

“We are conscious that we have steered clear of openly communicating our thoughts on the search for a permanent manager until this time, as we felt that to do so would undermine both Kevin’s and the players’ efforts to focus on preparing for these games,” the statement said.

“To date, we have immersed ourselves in the process of appointing a new manager and clearly identifying the key criteria this person must meet.

“Two of the traits we believe are of crucial importance are that candidates have experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad.

“We have thoroughly researched potential candidates and have reached out to a variety of contacts we have within the game for advice and guidance, as well as keeping key staff at Villa Park informed and focused.

“We will now start the process of interviewing candidates we believe meet the key criteria required to manage Aston Villa with a view to making an appointment in the near future.

“Kevin MacDonald will continue as caretaker manager until that time.

“Finally, we wish to make clear that our relative inactivity in the transfer market this window in no way reflects a change in direction or dilution of ambition for the club, but rather our reluctance to make decisions on players without a permanent manager in place.”

After the 1-0 win over Everton at Villa Park thanks to a Luke Young goal, MacDonald said: “I’ve enjoyed being able to organise things but I still don’t know if it is for me or not.

“I will now have the chance to collate everything that has happened in the past two weeks and I’ve got to believe I’m good enough myself. That is what I will think about.”

Villa are currently fourth in the Premier League table after three games having also beaten West Ham 3-0 on the opening day of the season.

Gabriel Agbonlahor has declared he wants to stay at Aston Villa for the rest of his career.

The 23-year-old forward’s statement comes at a time when Villa are in need of a boost after they were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday.

And caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald has also admitted that he expects a battle to hold on to his best players.

Agbonlahor said: “Being from the area, I’ve got no reason to ever leave. I’m just enjoying my football here.”

“I saw in the programme stats the other day that I’m the longest-serving player,” added the Villa Academy product.

“I think I am one of the senior statesmen! I might bring that up with some of the lads.

“But I’m a local lad and you look at people like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard – they don’t want to leave their clubs – and it’s the same with me.”

Agbonlahor was Villa’s second-highest scorer with 16 goals during the 2009-10.

He missed the first three games of the 2010-11 campaign with injury before returning and scoring in the Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna on Thursday, but could not prevent the Midlands side from crashing out 4-3 on aggregate.

That defeat has prompted MacDonald to send out a hands-off warning to other clubs who may feel some of Villa’s players could now be unhappy and seeking a move.

“I am sure clubs will be interested in players because there are some good players at Aston Villa,” stated MacDonald, who took over the reins when Martin O’Neill quit just before the start of the season.

“You’d expect not being in Europe to be a factor but you’d expect it from the clubs that are playing in Europe in that they might want an extra big player.

“We’ve had not anything [enquiries] as such. People would have told me if there were any enquiries. We’ve had nothing so far.

“But in terms of convincing players to stay, it might not be their choice. If the club needs them, and they are under contract, the club will probably want to keep them.”

MacDonald, who will decide after Sunday’s Premier League game at home to Everton if he wants to apply for the job on a permanent basis, believes the squad may need strengthening after the losses to Newcastle and Rapid.

He added: “I think the results over the last two games would suggest that. As far as I know there is nothing on the horizon.

“I’ve been asked about who I thought might improve the team. I am not about to divulge that but I have been asked.

“But the big thing coming from when Martin O’Neill left was that a lot of the squad players were disgruntled.

“Those squad players have been given an opportunity to play. Whether it is one or two games, they have to come up to speed very, very quickly.

“There are lot of players with international experience in the squad. Whether we need to change the squad around a bit, that remains to be seen.”

MacDonald also believes the quality of manager interested in replacing O’Neill will not be affected by the lack of European football.

He commented: “I don’t really think that will be the case. I think Aston Villa is regarded as a major club and any Premier League club is a major club.

“I just think that there will be lots and lots of applications for this club because everyone will think they can push this club back up.”

For the second time in two seasons, Aston Villa’s Europa League ambitions were snuffed out by a second-half fightback from Rapid Vienna.

Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Villa the early advantage with a clinical finish.

Vienna hit back through Atdhe Nuhiu, but Emile Heskey restored Villa’s lead after a Stiliyan Petrov penalty miss.

Villa were to have the edge for barely a minute, though, Mario Sonnleitner heading Vienna level before substitute Rene Gartler put the visitors through.

To compound Villa’s torment in losing to Vienna again – this time last year, it was Nikica Jelavic who scored a decisive late goal at Villa Park – Heskey was guilty of an abysmal miss as he followed up the rebound from Petrov’s penalty.

With the goal at his mercy, the former England man contrived to scuff his shot into the ground and over the bar.

It was the stuff of nightmares for Kevin MacDonald, whose caretaker tenure of Villa is fast descending into turmoil.

Reluctantly cast in the role following Martin O’Neill’s resignation, MacDonald has said he is unsure if he wants it permanently. After this result, which follows hard on the heels of Sunday’s 6-0 mauling at Newcastle, he may no longer have the luxury of choice.

For those of a claret-and-blue persuasion, Villa’s second-half implosion must have been all the more painful for the promise which preceded it.

After events at St James’ Park, Villa might have been forgiven for starting cautiously. Instead, they showed an adventure which swiftly dispelled any doubts about their collective state of mind.

Barely a minute had passed when Ashley Young slotted an incisive ball through the Rapid Vienna defence for Agbonlahor, who tested goalkeeper Raimund Hedl with a low effort across goal.

It set the tone for an effervescent early display from Young, who added to Hedl’s discomfort with a curving free-kick, and then combined devastatingly with Agbonlahor to hand Villa the initiative.

Released along the right by Stephen Ireland, the fleet-footed winger calmly steered a first-time ball into the six-yard box, where Agbonlahor slid in ahead of Sonnleitner to score.

Unfortunately for MacDonald and Villa, the Young-Agbonlahor axis was derailed soon afterwards.

Having picked up a knock which he tried and failed to shake off, Agbonlahor was forced off with the interval approaching, robbing Young of his initial zest and Villa of their chief goal threat.

Yet with Vienna struggling to make an impression offensively – two first-half efforts from Yasin Pehlivan posed a greater threat to Birmingham’s bird population than Brad Guzan’s goal – there seemed little immediate cause for concern.

That feeling grew stronger after the interval when Agbonlahor’s replacement, Marc Albrighton, made a weaving run through the Austrian defence before firing wide.

But almost immediately, Veli Kavlak swung a right-wing cross into the danger area and Nuhiu – who also scored for Vienna in the first leg – rose to head home, silencing Villa Park.

They quickly rediscovered their voices when Young went down in the area under a challenge from Markus Katzer, but the Dutch referee, Eric Braamhaar, was rightly unmoved.

He was in more generous mood when Heskey was subsequently felled by Sonnleitner, but both Petrov – whose spot kick was pushed away by Hedl – and Heskey looked the proverbial gift horse in the mouth.

Atonement comes in various guises, and when Vienna failed to clear a corner five minutes later, Heskey looked to have made amends, the ball rebounding in off his midriff from a Habib Beye drive.

But having equalised in fortuitous circumstances, Villa were once again unable to maintain their lead.

Three minutes later, Stefan Hoffmann sent in a corner from the right, and Sonnleitner stooped to guide home a header at the near post.

Now behind on away goals, Villa’s European hopes – and, perhaps, MacDonald’s job prospects – were hanging by a thread.

There was to be no happy ending; instead, two Vienna substitutes combined to confirm MacDonald’s misery. Christoper Trimmel wrong-footed the Villa defence with a precise centre to the far post, and Gartler was on hand to stab home.

Aston Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald has conceded that the club’s Europa League exit could influence his chances of getting the job permanently.

MacDonald could not prevent Villa from slipping to a 3-2 home defeat against Rapid Vienna, 4-3 on aggregate.

Asked if the loss was a major blow to his hopes of securing the post, he was realistic in his appraisal.

“It may have an influence,” he replied. “But I must stress it is the media who have put me up as first choice.”

Former reserve-team coach MacDonald has been at the helm since Martin O’Neill’s abrupt departure on 9 August.

Ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, former Villa star Gareth Southgate and United States coach Bob Bradley are all believed to be in the running as a long-term replacement.

Villa twice led against Vienna on Thursday, opening the scoring with a first-half goal from the returning Gabriel Agbonlahor before Emile Heskey responded to Atdhe Nuhiu’s equaliser.

Villa might have led 3-1 by then, but Stiliyan Petrov had a penalty saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper Raimund Hedl and Heskey failed to net a simple chance from the rebound.

It was a key moment for Villa, who were subsequently undone by goals from Mario Sonnleitner and substitute Rene Gartler, but MacDonald insists that his sole focus is the weekend’s Premier League appointment with Everton.

“I have never been told I was first choice and expect nothing to change until after the game on Sunday,” he added.

“It is a big blow for Aston Villa to go out of Europe again. A lot of the lads were disappointed to go out last season.

“It is a major blow for them. They are professional footballers and proud of what they do.

“My own position is not uppermost in my thoughts 10 minutes after a game. It is not about me, but about how the players and the football club react on Sunday.”

MacDonald could not, however, conceal his disappointment at the manner of the defeat against opponents who also beat Villa at the same stage of the competition last season.

“I am very disappointed. We were in total control at 1-0 and gave away a silly equaliser,” he said.

“We also missed a penalty and gave away a silly third goal. We made three silly mistakes and we are out of the tournament.

“You can’t legislate for individual mistakes from international players.

“But as a group we score goals and we will accept responsibility for mistakes as a group as well.”

MacDonald’s downbeat reflections were in stark contrast to the elation of his opposite number.

“It feels great to beat Villa for the second year running,” said Vienna manager Peter Pacult.

“It is the most emotional success I have had as a manager. I was actually disappointed with the draw because it meant we had to beat a Premier League side again.

“But we produced a top-class performance, an international performance, and I am delighted with the results.”

Kilmarnock have agreed a deal to sign striker Harry Forrester from Aston Villa on loan until January.

Killie manager Mixu Paatelainen hopes to have the 20-year-old available to feature in Saturday’s Scottish Premier League game against Aberdeen.

“Harry is a young striker who has not yet broken into the Villa first-team but he’s one for the future,” he said.

Forrester began his career with Watford before Villa beat Manchester United and Spurs to his signature in July 2007.

He signed his first professional contract with Villa the following January.

Villa paid an initial fee of 250,000 with Watford due a sell-on fee should he move to another club.

Paatelainen said Forrester was a welcome addition and tipped him to shine in Scotland’s top flight.

“I think the SPL gives these boys a good platform to perform,” he added.

“He came in a couple of weeks ago to train with us and played in a practice match and did really well and scored a goal.

“So we took it forward and now he is joining us.

“He is a very energetic player, good technical ability, buzzes about the main striker.”

Kilmarnock are aiming to bolster their attacking options following the departures of Kevin Kyle, Allan Russell and David Fernandez.

Nancy striker Basile Camerling remains at Rugby Park on trial but former Coventry forward Cedric Roussel will not be signing.

“There might be one or two still to come,” Paatelainen said.

“We are working very hard and have various options so we are hopeful.”

Aston Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald pointed to his team selection as the possible reason his side were thumped 6-0 at Newcastle on Sunday.

Defender Ciaran Clark and midfielder Marc Albrighton, both 20, struggled as Newcastle ran riot.

“It might have been too much playing a couple of kids, maybe I was a bit wrong with my selection,” said MacDonald.

Regarding the Villa job, he added: “I’ve said come the end of next week I’d sit down and look at things.”

Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov later revealed complacency about the trip to St James’ Park.

“We thought we were going to come over here and get an easy game after our performance last week [a winning start against West Ham].

“But last week was last week and we need to be prepared for every single game. We are really disappointed because our defensive record has been great.”

MacDonald took over the reins after Martin O’Neill resigned a few days before the start of the season.

In his first game in charge Villa beat West Ham 3-0 but the man praised for his work with the reserves may now find himself under pressure.

The 49-year-old, who was a member of Liverpool’s Double-winning squad of 1986, paid tribute to Newcastle but said Villa striker John Carew’s penalty miss changed the momentum after his side dominated the early exchanges.

“It was a very disappointing result,” he stated. “We started well and got the penalty but then Carew missed and it changed the momentum.

“We then got hammered. Even if we had scored it doesn’t mean we would have held on and won the game but full credit to Newcastle. They took chances and played well, especially in the second half, but when you’re 3-0 up it helps.”

Opposite number Chris Hughton was delighted with his side’s display and praised hat-trick hero Andy Carroll.

Newcastle, who lost 3-0 in their opening league fixture at Manchester United last week, were up and running when Joey Barton fired in from 20 yards within three minutes of Carew’s miss.

Goals from Carroll and Kevin Nolan gave the Magpies a 3-0 lead at half-time before Nolan hooked in his second and Carroll scored two more to round off the impressive display.

“I watched Aston Villa last weekend and thought they were emphatic in everything they did – and we expected a tough game,” commented Hughton.

“But once we got the first goal it lifted any fears we might have had and after half-time we managed to keep it going.

“There was an intensity to our play but you have got to have goalscoring opportunities. We were able to go right through to the end and as it got more open it suited us more.”

On Carroll, Hughton added: “He is still developing but what he has is great desire and aptitude to improve. He’s a bit of a throwback, a local lad and he took his goals very, very well.”