Villa’s O’Neill to Replace England’s McClaren?

Aston Villa’s American chairman Randy Lerner is worried for Steve McClaren’s job. Not that he personally has a vested interest in the performance of McClaren’s England; rather, Lerner is worried that England’s run of poor results could lead to the departure of his team’s manager, Martin O’Neill. On Thursday, the Aston Villa manager reassured his boss that he intended to stay at Villa Park for the long haul. A sigh of relief.

McClaren, on the other hand, isn’t breathing so easily. After losing 1-0 to Spain at Old Trafford, McClaren’s men have gone four games without a win. Granted, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, John Terry and Ashley Cole were all missing, and granted, England’s last two were friendlies against far tougher opposition than it faces in Euro 2008 qualifying Group E, but results there have also been poor to say the least. Indeed, many pundits are earmarking the Lions’ crucial tie away to Israel as do-or-die day for McClaren’s England. A loss or even a draw could mean the end of his short tenure.

Meanwhile, it’s implausible that Lerner will have questioned O’Neill about the England job out of the blue. There must be whisperings out there somewhere about his possible replacement.