Gerrard can now lead Villa back to football’s top table

DAVID JAMES reckons old pal Steven Gerrard’s appointment as Aston Villa boss is a “match made in heaven”.

The legendary former goalkeeper played with Gerrard at Liverpool and England and also had two years at Villa Park himself.

And he feels that Gerrard’s switch from Rangers to England’s second city will bring the good times back to Villa.

James said: “I have to say the more I think about it the better it feels and my initial thoughts were that it was a great appointment anyway.

“From my experience with the club, Aston Villa fans want some kind of success. Even when I was there it was not necessarily winning the Premier League.

“We got to a cup final when I was there. That’s where Aston Villa want to be

– winning backroom staff from Rangers have joined Aston Villa. Gerrard was appointed Villa manager on Thursday and former Scotland midfielder Gary McAllister and Michael Beale will now assume the roles of assistant head coach at Villa Park. Tom Culshaw, Scott Mason and Jordan Milsom have also made the move. “Aston Villa are pleased to welcome Gary McAllister, Michael Beale, Tom Culshaw (technical coach), Scott Mason (lead analyst) and Jordan Milsom (head of fitness and conditioning) to the club as part of Steven Gerrard’s backroom staff,” read a statement. trophies, going on European tours and I think with Stevie G’s pedigree as a player he was a serial winner.

“As a manager he’s had success with Rangers and I think there is a development stage as a manager for Stevie G.

“Villa want to develop as a football club, there’s a perfect synergy for Stevie to get them to that next stage.

“I’m not sure what his final ambition is – just being at a Premier League team after winning titles and Champions League or what.

“But for Aston Villa, being in the top five or six, qualifying for the Champions League at best, qualifying for Europa League or Conference League, that would seem like success.

“The way that Steve is as a manager and the way Aston Villa want to develop is a match made in heaven.”

James, who has managed Indian club Kerala Blasters since hanging up his boots, saw the emergence of Gerrard, 41, through the Liverpool youth ranks. But he reckons

the former England captain’s managerial potential only shone later in his career – and his obsession with the game is obvious.

James, 51, said: “When I managed in India, I was trying to get players and I asked if he had players at Rangers.

“Nothing came of it but the most important thing about it is it wasn’t two old team-mates having a gas, it was a manager talking to another manager and the conversation was purely about work and how he can help me.

“He was focused on giving the right information. You can see what he has done at Rangers, you can see him growing as a manager and person.

“When he was a whippersnapper, the environment wasn’t the right one for him as they weren’t winning anything but now he creates his own environment to be successful.

“Aston Villa fans have something good to look forward to.”

James is keen for another chance in the managerial game himself and says he regularly “sends his CV around”.

But for now he is promoting Utilita’s Wear Warm campaign which suggests household heating should be turned down below 23 degrees.

James said: “I’m not saying turn the heating off completely but maybe people should reduce the thermostat to between 18

and 21 degrees.”

For more information about Utilitia’s Wear Warm campaign visit www.wearwarm.co.uk.