McLeish Adamant Right for Villa

New Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is adamant he is the right man to take the club forward.

News of the 52-year-old former Birmingham City manager's appointment led angry Villa fans to protest outside Villa Park.

But McLeish said: "Let me prove myself and I will win the fans over. I'm the man for this job.

"Am I fazed by it? No. Have I had it before? Yes. I've got thick skin and I'm ready for the challenge."

The Scot, who has managed Motherwell, Hibernian, Rangers, the Scottish national side and Birmingham, insisted it was a tough decision to leave City for their bitter rivals and thanked the Blues for their support.

''To think I have been able to manage both of them [Villa and Birmingham] is a wonderful honour," he said.

''I would not say it was a difficult decision in my career but it was a tough one, it is not every day you get offered a job like this. There is no way I could not have been the manager of Villa.

''I thank them [Birmingham] very much for their support over the four years I have been there. Not everybody was sure of me at Birmingham and, OK, I left on relegation but we just fought one of the hardest Premier League campaigns ever.''

McLeish also added that he would have no problem looking to St Andrews in an attempt to add to the Villa squad.

"I know there are many good players there but the policy that I have always maintained is not to talk about other clubs' players," he said.

"I am getting bombarded - we are just going to assess things at the moment. If I thought a [Birmingham] player could improve Aston Villa, why not?"

Villa had been without a permanent boss since April when Gerard Houllier suffered ill health and subsequently left the club.

New Nottingham Forest manager Steve McClaren and former Fulham boss Mark Hughes had been linked with the role, while Wigan manager Roberto Martinez turned down the opportunity.

McLeish, who won the Carling Cup with Birmingham last term before leading them to relegation, admitted that he was surprised when Villa owner Randy Lerner approached him for the job.

"I was [surprised]. That's why I am so flattered to be chosen by the chairman Randy Lerner. He has seen something in my CV that has attracted me to this club.

"I take a lot of heart from that despite the furore of the past couple of days.

"I know that relegation does not look good, but there were good times at Birmingham City and in my past as a manager."