Martin O'Neill Resigns As Aston Villa Manager Days Before Start Of Premier League Season

Martin O'Neill has resigned as manager at Aston Villa, the club has just announced.  The resignation carries immediate effect and comes just days ahead of the opening of the Premier League season, with Aston Villa set to host West Ham United on Saturday.

Reserve team manager Kevin McDonald will assume the manager's role in a caretaker capacity.

O'Neill and Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner released comments through the club's website:

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Aston Villa, said: "The club would like to thank Martin for the great work he has done at Aston Villa over the past four years. He has helped to establish the club in the upper echelons of the Premier League, has taken us to Wembley and we have also qualified for European competition for the past three seasons under his management. We wish him the best in the future."

Martin O'Neill said: "I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely. It's obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club. I would like to pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager. I wish them all the best for the future. I will obviously be assisting the club in the immediate short-term with regard to the handover of my duties."

The 58-year-old O'Neill joined Aston Villa in 2006, moving from Celtic. The Northern Irishman had previously managed in the Premier League with Leicester City, winning two League Cups. O'Neill returned to the League Cup final last season, losing to Manchester United on his way to a third straight sixth place finish in the Premier League.

According to the statement released by the club, neither Aston Villa nor Martin O'Neill will have further comment on the resignation.