Villa continue pursuit of McLeish despite protesters

Club owner Randy Lerner held positive and productive discussions with the Scot earlier during the day, according to sources close to Villa.

Lerner has identified McLeish as a prime candidate to replace Gerard Houllier, who left Villa at the start of the month.

McLeish quit Villa’s local rivals Birmingham on Sunday and has flown back from a family holiday in Corsica to speak with Lerner.

Villa believe they are entitled to talk to McLeish as to their mind he is a “free agent”.

The stance taken by Birmingham is somewhat different, and they are still hoping to obtain £5.4m in compensation for the remaining two years of McLeish’s contract.

The League Managers’ Association have criticised City for their treatment of McLeish regarding certain transfers and the sacking of chief scout Paul Montgomery.

Some sections of Villa fans have voiced their opposition to McLeish taking charge because of his association with their local rivals.

A spray-painted message reading, ‘Bluenose scum not welcome` was removed yesterday from the wall outside Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground.

A gathering of angered supporters later turned up outside Villa Park to protest against Lerner’s plans to install McLeish.

McLeish has brought success to Birmingham during the past three years, although they were relegated from the Barclays Premier League last month.

He guided Birmingham to promotion in his first full season, secured a highest top division placing – ninth – in 2009-10, and then led the team to Carling Cup glory at Wembley in February, the club’s first major trophy for nearly 50 years.

West Ham are set to complete the signing of Kevin Nolan today and make him their new captain.

The Hammers revealed they expect to complete two new signings today, with Bolton left-back Ricardo Gardner also poised to arrive at Upton Park.

“Both prospective arrivals are proven Premier League players and will add greatly to new manager Sam Allardyce’s first-team squad ahead of the 2011-12 season,” read a club statement.

Newcastle midfielder Nolan was due to undergo a medical after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee for him.

The 28-year-old will fill the void in the midfield set to be created by Scott Parker’s likely move back to the Premier League this summer.