Gerard Houllier is leaving Aston Villa with a bumper pay-out.
The Sun says Houllier left Aston Villa last night - with around £5million for nine months' work.
Villa are close to agreeing a pay-off with the French boss after owner Randy Lerner blocked his return to the dugout next season following heart problems suffered in April.
The settlement will leave Villa clear to pursue their No 1 target Mark Hughes - although Fulham will fight to keep their manager.
Houllier, with two years to run of his three-year £8m contract, is in line to walk away with a compensation package of around £3m on top of the salary he earned last season.
