Football: O'NEILL'S RETURN.

Byline: By MARTIN ROGERS

MARTIN O'NEILL last night vowed to revolutionise Aston Villa's fortunes after being unveiled as manager amid joyous scenes (left)

He was greeted by more than a thousand cheering supporters when he arrived at Villa Park to sign a one year rolling contract. The former Celtic boss begins work today and was due to jet off on the club's pre-season tour to Germany at 7am.

O'Neill's Celtic assistant John Robertson and coach Steve Walford will link up with the 54-year-old.

As he returned to the game for the first time since leaving Celtic in May 2005 to care for his sick wife. O'Neill promised to restore pride to Villa after years of underachievement.

He said: "I am ready to go and I am ready for the challenge. I was overwhelmed by the response I got when I arrived here.

"I didn't know if there would be anyone here at all and it makes you realize what a great history is associated with this club.

"It has been 25 years since this club was European champions and it would be silly to pretend we are not a long way from that now.

"But why not have a try? To get this club back up there that is the dream. That is the challenge I am taking on."

O'Neill's contract will be worth around pounds 1.6million a year, rising to more than pounds 2m with bonuses.

His first competitive match in charge will be the Premiership opener against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on August 19

After Villa's 16th place finish last season with 42 points, O'Neill feels he has plenty of scope for improvement.

He said: "This is a great opportunity for me to get back into management. It is the right time. For the last 15 months there have been very few days when I have not thought about football. I have missed it."

Chairman Doug Ellis said yesterday: "Martin's success as a manager is well documented but for me it is his passion and ability to motivate that is unsurpassed."

American Randy Lerner is still favourite to complete a pounds 64m takeover of the club.

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Title Annotation:	Sport
Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Aug 5, 2006
Words:	360
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