Alex McLeish 13/8 Not To Last The Season At Aston Villa After Birmingham Switch

The most controversial managerial switch of the Summer involved Alex McLeish leaving his job at Birmingham only to hot foot it across the city to join rivals Aston Villa to the dismay of both sets of fans. It has to be said that the initial hysteria from Villa fans about the appointment of McLeish has slightly died down but he more than any other Manager in the Premier League knows that a quick start to the new season is absolutely essential for his long term employment opportunities. McLeish went from hero to zero at Birmingham with the ecstasy of their Carling Cup win at Wembley followed by a dip in form which eventually saw them relegated back to the Championship in May.

Villa made it clear they wanted Alex Mcleish and he was quick to jump at the chance to stay in the Premier League despite the fact it meant he would be heading to Birmingham's biggest rivals. It's clear there is not a massive amount of money on offer for McLeish at Villa but the expectation for a top eight place is still there and the notoriously demanding Villa fans will put even more pressure on Mcleish if the team struggle in the early part of the campaign. It has already been a tough summer for McLeish having lost his two best players in Ashley Young and Stewart Downing and Paddy Power have taken note of that and make him as short as 13/8 not to last to the end of his first season at Villa Park.

Many would consider a top half finish something of a success for McLeish and Aston Villa this season but that is unlikely to be enough for Villa fans who started to get twitchy when Martin O'Neill led them to successive sixth place finishes a few years back. McLeish does have a goalscorer in his squad in Darren Bent but with Young and Downing departing he will hope there is still enough creativity at the club. A good cup run will help McLeish to settle in and the team can be backed to win any trophy this season, Paddy Power are offering a short looking 12/1 about Villa winning some silverware this season with punters in affect backing the Villains to win either the FA or League Cup. All eyes will be on Villa Park this season as we get ready to view a soap opera that could be one of the most intriguing sub-plots of the new Premier League season, the bookmakers are not convinced he will be a success and it remains to be seen whether they will be proved right.

Alex McLeish Aston Villa Betting Specials with Paddy Power

• 4/9 - McLeish to still be in charge on final day of 2011/12 Premier League season


• 13/8 - McLeish not to be in charge of Villa on final day of 2011/12 Premier League season


• 12/1 - Aston Villa to win any trophy during the 2011/12 season


• 8/1 - McLeish to be the first Premier League Manager sacked after the start of the new season


• 10/1 - Villa to score 38 or less Premier League goals during the 2011/12 season