Alex McLeish: This took me by surprise at Aston Villa, makes Rangers comparison
By Amir Mir
Alex McLeish has revealed that the reaction he received from supporters when he was named Aston Villa manager in 2011 took him by “surprise”.
The Scotsman left arch rivals Birmingham City to take over the reigns of their neighbours following the Blues’ relegation from the Premier League six years ago.
Both sets of supporters didn’t react too well with the appointment as McLeish’s time at Villa Park was short-lived – he was sacked at the end of the campaign.
McLeish was tasked to cut the wage bill at the club after the Midlands side had previously spent heavily under Martin O’Neill who had guided them to three consecutive top-six finishes.
McLesih described the “pain” of having to downsize and drew comparisons with his time at Scottish giants Rangers where he had to do a similar job amongst the huge expectations.
Here is McLeish opening up about his time with the now Championship club.
“It took me by surprise [the reaction],” McLeish told ESPN. “I was backed into a corner when I left Birmingham. I felt that I was being undermined so I had to get out. The goalposts shifted and I had no alternative but to leave at the end of the season. But I didn’t anticipate the reaction of the fans on both sides. I’m not on social media, but by all accounts, I was getting slaughtered.
“I assumed that I would have a few bob to spend. I went back to see my wife afterwards. She saw my face and said, ‘Not one of these years again?’ She was with me at Rangers when they were downsizing and we went through a lot of pain.”
McLeish was sacked at the end of his first season with Villa as they narrowly avoided relegation by two points.
Since then the club continued its plan of cutting the wage bill when managers such as Paul Lambert and Tim Sherwood followed in his footsteps.
As a result, the Midlands giants were relegated for the first time in nearly three decades last season as they are now managed by another former Birmingham man Steve Bruce.
In other Aston Villa news, Sky Sports pundit has stated his prediction for the club’s clash against Ipswich.
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