Solskjaer still open to Villa job

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists he would still consider the Aston Villa manager's job should it be offered to him.

The Molde boss reportedly turned down the position on Saturday despite several hours of discussions with Villa owner Randy Lerner earlier this week. The former Manchester United striker then returned to Molde to learn that the club's billionaire backer, Kjell Inge Rokke, had decided to withdraw his funding as a result of Solskjaer's actions. In a further twist, Solskjaer has publicly defended his decision to speak to the Premier league club, stressing that it was just an 'informal chat'. He also insisted that while he would be happy to see out his deal at Molde, he would also be willing to speak to Villa again. "It's up to Aston Villa whether there's anything more," said the 39-year-old. "I've only spoken with them and expect them to speak to more people. They're looking for a new manager. If they make contact, I'll make a decision then." Solskjaer remains favourite to take the job at Villa Park and replace Alex McLeish, who was sacked last Monday after a disappointing 16th place finish. However, punters may want to use their free bet to back Norwich boss Paul Lambert for the job. The Scot has hinted he may leave Carrow Road in the summer and has been heavily linked with a move to the Midlands. Should a further move for Solskjaer fail to materialise, Lambert may well find himself on Villa's radar.