O'Neill tipped to be named Villa boss on Friday

LONDON, Aug 4 (Reuters) Martin O'Neill, the former Celtic and Leicester City manager, is expected to be named Aston Villa boss later today.

The ex-Northern Ireland international midfielder, who won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest as a player, was named by all British national newspapers as the next manager at Villa Park after the exit of David O'Leary in the close season.

O'Neill, who guided Celtic to the 2003 UEFA Cup final, quit the Scottish club after five years in May 2005 to care for his sick wife Geraldine.

The reports come amid interest from several parties in buying chairman Doug Ellis's controlling share in the former European champions. American billionaire Randy Lerner and a consortium by local businessman Michael Neville have been linked with the Midlands club.

REUTERS PM KP1337