Alex McLeish: Managing Aston Villa not an easy job

Alex McLeish says that managing Aston Villa is “not an easy job” but has backed Tim Sherwood to be a success at the club.

The Scotsman was in charge for a year at the Claret and Blue but was never taken to by supporters after joining the club from rivals Birmingham City.

He led the side to a 16th place finish in the Premier League in 2012 before being replaced by fellow Scot Paul Lambert who was succeeded by Sherwood in February 2015.

Given Lambert’s struggles and speculation that owner Randy Lerner is keen to sell the club, McLeish said it was a difficult role for any manager.

He said: “I went in there for a year and, okay, I wasn’t the most welcome manager in the world having come from Birmingham. It was a tough and difficult year and I think when you see what has happened over the last three or four years since I left that is not an easy job.

“I think people thought Paul Lambert was going to make it all turn magic again but now Tim is in and there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel with the  cup final, although they were well beaten in that particular final.

“I’m sure Tim Sherwood has got good ideas. I don’t know Tim that well but whenever I’ve met him he’s a confident, positive guy and he could be what the club needs.”

McLeish has returned to the UK after a year in charge of Racing Genk in Belgium where he fell just short of leading the side to a place in the Jupiler Pro League Championship play-offs.

However, he says the experience was a positive one and feels “revitalised” after working with the squad.

“It was a great experience, I really enjoyed it,” he said. “I had quite a young squad trying to fight for the top six and from there you try and fight for the title but we were just pipped for the sixth position by courtesy of losing one game less than the team who made it.

“But we brought a lot of good young players through and I’m sure it will be good for Racing Genk in the future.”

He added: “I felt revitalised on the training ground again with the guys. I took Alex Rae with me who was a brilliant assistant, so enthusiastic and the players loved him.

“The club were making big changes. There were some things I couldn’t change myself, and I thought it was better that I didn’t put my hat in the ring for a renewal of contract talks so it is good to be back in England.”