Football News
Kop hero explains Villa snub
Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has explained why he decided to turn down the chance to become Gerard Houllier’s number two at Aston Villa.
Sky Sports pundit Thompson was Houllier’s assistant at Liverpool but, despite being tempted by the offer to join the Frenchman at Villa Park, he decided the role would entail more commitment than he is prepared to give at this moment in time.
Houllier, 63, was announced as Martin O’Neill’s successor as Aston Villa manager at a press conference last night.
Thompson wrote in his column in the Liverpool Daily Post: "Sometimes in life you get presented with an opportunity that is too good to be true but, ultimately, has to be turned down.
"Had circumstances been different, I would have been delighted to accept the chance to join Gerard Houllier and work with him and Patrice Bergues once again at Aston Villa.
"But I had to weigh up the pros and cons and while it was both flattering to be asked, not to mention hugely enticing, I really had no other choice but to turn the offer down.
"When you work with Gerard, you are signing up to 12 hour days; on top of that, you have to go to reserve games, scout players and also head off to check up on forthcoming opponents – in other words, you have to be totally committed.
"Now don’t get me wrong, I would love to throw myself at such a challenge again but, at the same time, I do not want to uproot my wife and my two boys; I’m not someone who could live away from them through the week."
Thompson added: "[Houllier] has got a wealth of knowledge, knows the game inside out and it will be fantastic occasion when Liverpool tackle Villa at Anfield in the first weekend of December.
"It would have been great to strike up the partnership we had at Anfield and to be involved in the day-to-day running of a football club again really did turn my head.
"But there were other things to consider and my family comes first; to take on such a job, everything had to be right and that wasn’t the case."