Villa have played down speculation that Mark Hughes will replace Houllier after he resigned as Fulham boss. But Mortimer, who skippered Villa to the European Cup in 1982, hopes Lerner will appoint from within these shores after Frenchman Houllier ended his reign after his recent heart problems. He said: "I would rather see a British manager in charge of Villa. I just feel that we don't give our British managers much of a chance. "We go for these people from abroad who have been around a bit but they are not always the right choice. "Get someone fresh who understands the game here. There are people out there and I just hope it is not a foreign manager. "I get fed up with foreign managers because we need to give our British managers a chance." Former Villa boss Graham Taylor has urged Lerner to appoint a new manager as soon as possible - to avoid a repeat of last summer's turmoil. Villa were left without a manager five days before the start of the campaign after Martin O'Neill opted to part company with the club after four years in charge. It meant the transfer window had closed before Houllier arrived in mid-September and he had to wait until January before being able to make his mark via new arrivals. Taylor said: "I just hope Villa don't delay the appointment of a new manager because Gerard Houllier came in when the transfer window had almost gone. "They should learn from that. If they've made their mind up, the type of manager they want, who they want, I would like them to move for him very early. "I think it is very important to settle the situation and for the new manager to be able to work the transfer window if he is allowed to do so - which I think he will be. "Also it is very important for the players. Whatever people say about players, when they report back for pre-season, it is very important everyone knows who Villa's manager is. "Otherwise it will be another possibility of a strange start and not everyone knowing each other." "Let's make sure Villa are settled much as possible by the start of the new season." Lerner is an admirer of axed Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, but former England head coach Steve McClaren and one-time Tottenham manager Martin Jol are also believed to be under consideration.
