The finer details are still being discussed by the club and O'Leary, but Ellis is very confident he has kept his man. Ellis said: "We’ve shaken hands on a deal that is effectively for the next three years and eight months, going through to the summer of 2008.
“It was a 90 minute meeting at which we reached our agreement and, as far as I am concerned, shaking hands on a deal means we have a deal.”
The Dubliner will always be best remembered in Ireland for his penalty against Romania in Italia 90. He started his managerial career at Leeds, whom he brought to the semi-finals of the Champions League before being made a scapegoat for their financial ruin, when he was sacked.
He impressed many by proving he could manage well without a big budget as last season he led Villa to within one match of a UEFA Cup spot, and not far off a Champions League place. Considering the fact he was supposed to have tried to avoid relegation, his achievements have rightly impressed the Villa board.