Villa still waiting on O'Neill news

Martin O'Neill is unlikely to be installed as Aston Villa's new manager before the start of their pre-season tour to Germany and Holland.

O'Neill remains the overwhelming favourite to eventually replace David O'Leary who parted company with the Midlands club a fortnight ago. But it is goalkeeping coach Eric Steele who has been put in charge of team affairs when Villa fly out for the nine day trip on Friday morning.

Villa confirmed there will be no managerial appointment on Thursday and matters will have to move at a frenetic pace for O'Neill to be able to board the plane with his new group of players.

Former Manchester City player Steele will replace caretaker manager Roy Aitken who has withdrawn to continue his recovery from recent surgery. Aitken, who was O'Leary's number two, has been in charge of all of Villa's pre-season games to date.

The Scot said: "When the manager left a couple of weeks ago, I was asked to take temporary charge and I came back to work earlier than I should have. But a pre-season tour, with all it entails, is a step too far at this stage and it's probably best that I leave it to people who are fully fit and able to work to full capacity.

"The chairman Doug Ellis has been very fair and backs my decision to take a back seat for a few weeks and put my own health first."

O'Neill would be the number one choice with fans and would find favour with the four consortiums currently bidding to take control of Villa. But the former Celtic boss is not known for being rail-roaded into making quick decisions when it comes to potential employers.

O'Neill has spoken on several occasions with Ellis and has observed the pros and cons of the consortia in the hunt to take over at Villa. It is more likely he will fly out to join up with the tour in the middle of next week if he decides the Villa job is right for him and he has assurances from Ellis over the direction the club will be heading.

The consortium headed by American billionaire Randy Lerner is believed to still be in pole position after the owner of NFL side Cleveland Browns re-activated his interest in Villa.

But Lerner faces competition from the group fronted by agent Athole Still plus the consortiums of Michael Neville and Nicolas Padfield QC who are contemplating joining forces.