Former Aston Villa captain Chris Nicholl believes the club can now settle down after Roy Hodgson was named new Liverpool manager.
Martin O'Neill was in the frame for the Reds post and the speculation was not doing Villa any favours, admits Nicholl.
Nicholl believes Villa can now go forward with former Northern Ireland team-mate O'Neill without fear of him being poached.
"I'm glad all the uncertainty which seemed to be surrounding Martin towards the end of last season has been cleared up," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"There was a lot of talk that he might quit and then there was talk that he would go to Liverpool and that kind of thing can be unsettling. There was obviously something not right last season, but Martin and the chairman look like they've sorted that out now.
"He's done a great job at Villa and there's no reason why that can't continue. I can't see Manchester United or England or anyone coming in for Martin now - I think they'll go for Jose Mourinho.
"So if he keeps making the progress he has been at Villa he could have a job for life."
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