Former Ireland captain Andy Townsend may be about to make a return to the game as Aston Villa's Director of Football.
The 52-year-old retired in 2000 after a 20-year professional career. He won 70 caps for Ireland and played in two World Cups.
Townsend spent four years at Aston Villa in the 1990s. He was part of the team that won two League Cup titles in 1994 and 1996.
The former ITV pundit has never been involved in management or coaching since retirement, but according to The Sun, Townsend has been approached about becoming Villa's Director of Football.
The Birmingham side look set to be relegated from the Premier League this season. They currently lie 15 points away from safety at the bottom of the division with only six games left to play.
If Townsend does take the job, one of his first tasks will be to find a replacement for Remi Garde who left the club as manager last month.
Currently, Ciaran Clark is the only Irish international in the Aston Villa squad. Former Under-21 international Jack Grealish is expected to feature for the team in the coming weeks.
