Solskjaer flies in for talks over Villa vacancy

The former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yesterday entered talks on becoming the next manager of Aston Villa.

Solskjaer, the current manager of Norwegian champions Molde, and his wife were collected from his Norwegian home town of Kristiansund by the Villa owner Randy Lerner's private jet. Lerner sacked Alex McLeish on Monday, after a wretched 11 months in charge.

A Molde statement said the club were "aware of interest and contact from Aston Villa, and is aware that Aston Villa and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are talking together."

Aston Villa later released a statement that said: "The Aston Villa board has embarked upon an interview process which will lead to the appointment of a new manager.

"We are aware that certain individuals have been linked with our managerial vacancy but, out of respect to all potential candidates and any clubs they may currently be employed by, we will not discuss specific individuals by name."

The former Norway and Middlesbrough striker Jan-Aage Fjortoft, now a television presenter said: "Every Villa supporter will ask, 'Is he too inexperienced?'. But Solskjaer will have no problem coping with that, given the knowledge, the experience he has from the game."

"He won't be [Sir] Alex Ferguson, he will be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but very influenced by the life he has had at Manchester United. He has always been a learner, and he will be a great, great manager."