Former Aston Villa boss Ron Atkinson is backing Gerard Houllier to be a success at Villa Park.

Big Ron expects the former Liverpool and Lyon chief to implement gradual changes at Villa Park as the club look to build on progress made over the past few seasons.

He told AVTV: "I think that his first job - it is those existing players if he can get a little bit extra out of them, a little bit of extra motivation.

"For me I look at the scenario and it is not that much different to when I came to West Brom the first time, when the team was doing ok so you make gradual changes.

"When I came to Villa I think we bought eight players in a week or something like that - surgery was required.

"But it is not required at Villa at the moment. What he needs to do is to maybe get a little bit extra out of the squad that he has got."