Former Aston Villa star Ray Houghton has backed the appointment of Alex McLeish as new manager.
He did warn former Birmingham City boss McLeish that he would face a tough task to turn around the fans' feelings, but added that a good start would be the key to doing that.
He told talkSPORT: "Well I think given time [he will be a good appointment]. The problem is he is an ex-Birmingham manager and manager of a side that's been relegated. I don't know how the Villa public are going to take to him, that's going to be very difficult.
"If you go into a club at 50-50 you've got a chance, anything less than that and it's an uphill battle.
"But it is the prerogative of the owner, it is his choice. He owns the club. If the fans don't like it they won't turn up but if he can start well and get a few wins I'm sure the fans will start to come back."