Kevin MacDonald seems set to vacate his position as reserve-team coach with Aston Villa to join Steve Staunton on the coaching staff for the Republic of Ireland.

Staunton will be announced as the new Ireland head coach next week and he will turn to MacDonald, with whom he played with Villa and Liverpool, in a bid to lead the country to the 2008 European Championships.

MacDonald has become a permanent fixture at Villa Park. He has worked with Brian Little, John Gregory, Graham Taylor and now David O'Leary. As a player, he won the League and FA Cup double with Liverpool in 1986.

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MacDonald, who holds a Uefa pro licence coaching badge, has played a significant role in ensuring that Villa have the best youth policy in the English game.

The pieces of the jigsaw are beginning to fall in place for Staunton, who is due to officially be unveiled by the Football Association of Ireland on Monday along Sir Bobby Robson, who will act as advisor and mentor.

Staunton, who celebrates his 37th birthday next week, looks set to be handed a four-year contract, with Robson a two-year deal.

The FAI see that as ideal for Robson in order to ease Staunton, who has recently been coaching with Coca-Cola League One Walsall, into an unfamiliar role given his lack of managerial experience.

However, the FAI have entrusted Staunton with the task of appointing his own backroom team, despite Robson's welter of contacts from his many years in the game.

It was initially felt Robson would look to bring in John Carver, who was his assistant during his five years at Newcastle, and who is now head coach at Leeds.

But the FAI see it as vital there are no grey areas when it comes to the roles of Staunton and Robson, and have been drawing demarcation lines to that effect.

Staunton is the man in charge, with Robson to undertake whatever is required, a position he is believed to be more than happy with.

For Staunton, becoming manager will be the realisation of a life-long ambition, according to Tom Staunton, his proud father.

"He is elated, he is really, he is. He is thrilled, he is absolutely thrilled with it. He has a spring in his step again," Staunton senior said. "I am very happy for him because that was his ambition, to play football, to play for his country and eventually manage and there it is. It has happened in my lifetime."

Staunton senior recalled how the speculation had mounted in recent months since Brian Kerr, the previous head coach, lost his job in October after failing to take Ireland into the 2006 World Cup finals.

"Within a few weeks his name was mentioned, and it was mentioned, and suddenly there he is," Staunton senior said. "He is not appointed yet, but that is the way it seems to be going.

"He knew he was in the frame, shall we say. But suddenly he is number one, achieving his ambition to lead out his country. That was his ambition after finishing football."