Alex McLeish holds meeting with Aston Villa fans

Alex McLeish had a "positive" meeting with a group of Aston Villa fans this afternoon.

The manager met with a small group of supporters at the club's training ground to listen to their concerns and outline his future plans.

"It was a good, positive, open meeting and I don't think anyone left with long faces,” said Jonathan Fear, editor of the Vital Villa fansite.

"Some people might look at this as a cynical PR exercise but Alex McLeish wanted to meet some of the fans and put his points across and listen to what people had to say. He asked for the meeting and he is going to ask for more fans' forums.

"We all asked everything we felt was relevant and he answered it and wanted to be open and honest. He could have hidden away and it would have been easier not to front up to things."

McLeish's appointment sparked outrage among some Villa fans, angry that he had resigned as manager of relegated rivals Birmingham just days earlier.