After the storm, relative calm returned to Bodymoor Heath yesterday when Roy Aitken was handed temporary charge of Aston Villa.

But, away from the Villa training ground, there are two more battles ready to rage.

David O'Leary's dramatic, but much toasted departure has triggered speculation in the city that there are "discussions ongoing" for someone out there to make it a double and finally buy out 82-year-old chairman Doug Ellis's majority 39 per cent shareholding.

If that was not exciting enough news for Villa fans, the calibre of applicant expected to throw their hat in the ring for O'Leary's job - the so-called ' big hitters' - certainly should be.

Alan Curbishley, who simply wanted a rest from football when he left Charlton Athletic in May, has long been considered a prime contender. And, although still currently sunning himself abroad, this is one Villa old boy who would appear to fit the job credentials.

If Ellis is to still have any say, then Graeme Souness, of whom the veteran Villa chairman is a long-time admirer, must also be considered in the frame. And, having signed only a new one-year deal with newly-promoted Sheffield United, the ever controversial but generally successful Neil Warnock could also have his say.

Now he appears ready to return to the game, Martin O'Neill might also consider Villa the big, under achieving club he would like to get his teeth into. "I have been out of football for a year now," said O'Neill. "And, all things permitting, I would love to sub-merge myself in management again."

Assuming that what he said to that fake sheikh was just out of politeness and that Sven- Goran Eriksson really isn't in the running after all, that leaves only the unfancied runners.

Gordon Cowans, for instance.

He keeps his head down these days coaching the kids in the Villa Academy and, nice bloke though he undoubtedly is, he comes across as far too quiet and self effacing to be considered as a Premiership manager. But 'Sid' remains a big Villa favourite, 25 years on from his part in the club's European Cup triumph. And he was last night considered an extraordinarily short 8/1 bet by the bookies! Somebody must know something!

Then there are the claims of the caretaker.

Aitken may only have been O'Leary's trusted lieutenant for the past three years. But Villa's assistant manager has made it clear he would be happy to take the reins on a full-time basis.

"I don't know what the chairman's got in mind," said Aitken. "All I know is I've been asked to take temporary charge, and that's a job I'll do diligently and professionally. But I'd like to make it clear that, while I've become used to being a No 2, I've had my time as a manager before. I won things when I was at Aberdeen and I'd love the chance to do it again."

The irony is that only last weekend Aitken was expecting to enjoy another week or so's rest to recuperate from an operation to remove a small cancerous growth in his bowel, thankfully caught early after being pestered by his wife to undergo a routine health check. But then, as he puts it "the flak started flying". And he returned on Tuesday to help take the rudder, "should something happen".

The worldly wise Aitken wasted little time yesterday, though, in getting things at Bodymoor back on an even keel.

Villa's club statement released on Wednesday night, which apparently exonerated O'Leary of any involvement in last Friday afternoon's dressing room declaration of dis-content, effectively means the players are still on trial. But, while Aitken did admit that a sit-down and cosy chat with Ellis will still happen when he returns from his holiday, it's also time the events of the past week were put to bed.

"I've got good people around me in Steve McGregor and Eric Steele, the training is good, the work ethic is good and there's no split in the camp."

As for O'Leary, wherever he ends up next, it will not be at Sunderland.

The relegated Champion-ship club are still without a manager, just 15 days before the start of the new season. And the consortium bidding to complete a takeover at the Stadium of Light, led by O'Leary's former Arsenal and Republic of Ireland team-mate Niall Quinn, did consider him.

But Sam Allardyce is still their first choice - and they yesterday took the step of issuing a statement confirming that they do not want O'Leary.