Aston Villa link to Mark Hughes played down

Hughes led Fulham to a top 10 place last season

Aston Villa have been in touch with Premier League rivals Fulham to assure them that they have not been in contact with Cottagers boss Mark Hughes.

Villa are searching for a new manager after Gerard Houllier left the club on Wednesday because of health problems.
Hughes, the bookmakers' favourite, has been heavily linked with the vacancy but Villa have moved to allay the west London club's fears.
Fulham said they are in talks to extend Hughes' contract at Craven Cottage.
Although they have refused to discuss the details of Hughes' contract they have insisted that their position is unchanged. It is also understood that without their permission no club would be allowed to talk to Hughes about a possible move prior to 30 June - coincidentally the day their seasons starts with a Europa League qualifying fixture.
Former Villa boss Graham Taylor told BBC Sport that he believed a quick appointment was key in order to allow the club to plan with confidence for the season ahead.
Houllier's nine-month reign began in September, replacing caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald who himself took the reigns following Martin O'Neill's resignation only five days before the start of the season.
"The quicker they make that appointment the better," said Taylor.
"Each manager has a certain viewpoint on players when they come into a role and if they come in too late, as happened last year, they will have to wait until January when Gerard was able to bring in [striker] Darren Bent and [midfielder] Jean Makoun.
Taylor spent two separate spells in charge at Villa "You hear talk of Mark Hughes and I would have no problem with that.
"Mark understands the modern-day footballer, he is not much older than some of them, and has managed internationally with Wales, at club level with Fulham and Manchester City.
"He is a youngish manager with experience and has a certain discipline that people recognise."
Other names to have been linked with the vacancy at Villa Park include Everton's David Moyes and former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti.
"David Moyes has been hampered by the money he has had to work with, but he has done an excellent job at Everton," added Taylor.
"I don't think that Everton would want to let him go though and that is back to that problem of Villa making a quick appointment.
"David and Everton chairman Bill Kenwright get on very well as well and that is a big thing for a manager."
Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner has assured fans that the search for a new manager has already begun.
"As a board, we are very conscious of the need to ensure that the club is prepared fully to meet the demands of the new season," he said.
"To that end, we have already embarked upon the process which will lead to the appointment of a new manager."
Villa's new manger may have to focus on possible departures from the club rather than arrivals in their first few days.
Villa have so far failed to agree contract extension for wingers Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, increasing speculation the pair could move on this summer.
Under Houllier's leadership, Villa flirted with relegation before climbing to a ninth-place finish in the Premier League with four wins in their final seven games.
After finishing 2010 three places and one point above the relegation zone, Houllier spent an initial £18m in the January transfer window to sign Bent from Sunderland.
The purchase paid off with the England striker scoring nine goals in 16 league games.