Ron Saunders has urged Aston Villa fans to get behind Alex McLeish.
Similar to McLeish, Saunders crossed the divide to leave Villa and take the Birmingham City job in 1982.
Now aged 78 and still living in Birmingham, Saunders called on Villa fans to rally behind owner Randy Lerner's controversial appointment.
"It is only one man's decision and that man is Randy Lerner," he told the Sunday Mercury.
"It is up to him to pick the manager and the fans should get behind him."
