Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier could work alongside Kevin MacDonald in a director-of-football-type role if he takes the Aston Villa job.

Houllier has emerged as one of the leading contenders to replace Martin O’Neill who quit as manager three-and-a-half weeks ago.

Houllier has created a favourable impression with Villa owner Randy Lerner after being interviewed by the American multi-millionaire.

But the possibility of Houllier working alongside MacDonald rather being in charge solely in his own right is under strong consideration.

Former Liverpool midfielder MacDonald is widely respected in football circles for his coaching abilities and he has impressed during his five games in charge.

And Houllier may prefer a director-of-football-type role as he would not have to encounter the pressures of being in the dug-out after suffering a heart attack during his reign at Liverpool.

Lerner is likely to make an announcement about O’Neill’s successor during the early part of next week ahead of Villa’s next clash at Stoke on September 13.

Houllier, who is 63 today, left Anfield six years ago and has been employed as France’s technical director since parting company with Lyon in 2007.

He enjoyed considerable initial success with the Reds and led them to a UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup treble in 2001.

Villa believe he has the reputation and CV to keep Villa on an upward curve after three successive top- six finishes in the Premier League.

Before he moved to Liverpool, he also enjoyed title success with Paris St Germain and spent a decade overseeing the development of French football.

Former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley and MacDonald have also been interviewed for the post by Lerner and Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner.

Roberto Donadoni is also intererested in the job.

Former Bolton defender Danny Shittu, a reported Celtic target, is weighing up a number of offers as he looks to find himself a new club

The Nigeria international left Bolton earlier this week after cancelling his contract by mutual consent.

Shittu found himself out of favour over the last year and did not feature in the first team last season.

A number of clubs are thought to be monitoring Shittu’s situation after he impressed during the World Cup with Nigeria.

Celtic are rumoured to be tracking the former Watford man as Neil Lennon considers his defensive options, while clubs in France, Turkey and the Middle East are all believed to interested in the central defender

The 30-year-old feels he had no choice but to quit Bolton as he wants to be playing on a regular basis and he is now considering his options.

“I believe quitting Bolton was the right step to take as I didn’t have options to play at Bolton,” Shittu told skysports.com. “I wish the club all the best in the future and now I have to find myself a new club.

“I am now reviewing my options and there quite a few interested sides in me from Europe and the Middle East.

“Hopefully I can announce my where my future lies shortly after I return from international duty.”

Plymouth Argyle have strengthened their squad with the signing of Stephane Zubar on a one-month rolling contract.

The Guadeloupe-born defender is expected to sign an extended deal when he receives international clearance.

Zubar began his career with SM Caen in France and played for Romanian club SC Vaslui last season.

The 23-year-old caught the eye of manager Peter Reid when he turned out for the Pilgrims in a pre-season friendly against QPR this summer.

“He’s a strong boy and he impressed me in the summer, but we couldn’t do the deal then,” Reid told BBC Sport.

“He is a right full-back who can play in a few other positions.”

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton has managed to sign Hatem Ben Arfa on a season-long loan to strengthen his squad.

Ben Arfa has finally signed for Hughton after weeks of speculation about the future of the Marseille player and Hughton trying hard to make the deal happen. Ben Arfa is Hughton’s fifth signing of the summer for Newcastle.

Ben Arfa, who has had disciplinary problems in the past with Marseille, travelled to Tyneside earlier this month in an attempt to clinch a move, but returned to France with the clubs unable to agree terms.

It was always my first choice to come here and I’m delighted to be here.

Hatem Ben Arfa

He finally got his wish just one day after Ivory Coast international Cheik Tiote joined Newcastle, and Ben Arfa could face Blackpool in the club’s next league game.

Ben Arfa said: “It was always my first choice to come here and I’m delighted to be here.

“I have paid real attention to the history of the club and the great players to have played for it, and particularly the supporters, and I want to showcase my skills in Newcastle.

“All I’m waiting for is to show what I can do in front of the public in Newcastle.

“A lot of my friends in France already know the fans’ reputation. The stadium has an ambience that is unique and I feel very lucky to have his opportunity.”

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton was delighted to have managed to sign Ben Arfa, stressing that the negotiations to get him were very complex, but he was happy to now have got his man after a long chase.

Hughton said: “Hatem is a player who we have been tracking for a long time, and what is important is that he is not only a young player who should continue to improve, but somebody who already has a great reputation in the game.

“We think he will add flair to the squad and we are confident he will fit in well with the team that we have put together here.

“He will, I am sure, prove to be a great addition.”

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Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has ended his interest in Charles N’Zogbia after claiming the Wigan winger ‘moved the goalposts’ on his demands.

Blues had agreed a club-record fee to sign the France international, but they failed to reach agreement over his personal terms after a last-minute hitch.

McLeish told the club’s official website: “We did everything that was asked of us and then the goalposts were moved at the last minute.”

N’Zogbia has been linked with a move away from the DW Stadium all summer but Wigan manager Roberto Martinez criticised McLeish on Thursday for going public over his club’s interest in the player – and claimed the Blues’ offer at that point was less than one they rejected earlier in the summer.

But N’Zogbia was given permission to talk to the Midlands outfit after Wigan confirmed on Friday they had accepted a “much-improved” offer for the 24-year-old.

Those talks came to nothing, though, and McLeish added: “It was very important to us as a club to stick to our principals and look after the long-term interests of Birmingham City as we are custodians of the club.

“We remain ambitious and committed to adding extra quality to the playing squad but this deal became one that was not in the interests of the club.

“The Board worked with me extremely hard to try and get this one over the line and I thank them for their support.”

N’Zogbia, who made his France debut earlier this month in Les Bleus’ friendly defeat in Norway, started out in English football at Newcastle following his 2004 move from Le Havre.

He moved to Wigan in January 2009 after falling out of favour at St James’ Park and was voted player of the season by players and fans at the DW Stadium last term.