It must have been tempting for him, but I am surprised that he has even entertained the position.
Bear in mind that already there has been graffiti at Bodymoor, and he is not even in charge yet. He had not even had his interview! The hate squad are out in force before the pre-season has begun and there is very little chance that it will subside unless he takes us to the top of the table and keeps us there.
Luckily, I am not an irrational hatemonger, and I wish McLeish no harm at all. He seems a decent bloke and he was just doing a job at Blues. However, as the graffiti has proven, there are people out there that are less sensible. McLeish must consider that he will have to live in the midlands and will more than likely be unable to show his face anywhere in Birmingham. Both sets of fans will be gunning for him, and if I were in his shoes I would not entertain putting my family at risk of abuse.
I am equally surprised at the Villa board, because they know what the reaction will be. They should have avoided McLeish not only for Villa’s sake, but for his own. Factor in the opening game of the season where our players run out to a torrent of boos and abuse, and a sea of banners calling for McLeish to go. The team are unlikely to perform under such circumstances. With graffiti at the training ground, it also has to be considered that such an environment of hostility will force players like Downing to want out even quicker.
Players want stability, and they want a manager they can respect and that the fans will get behind. If McLeish is appointed it will derail the team even more than last season, and surely McLeish will realise that. I really do hope that he considers the impossible task that he would face, and respectfully declines the position if Randy is daft enough to offer it to him.