Lambert determined as job safety assured
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert confirmed he has been told by club owner Randy Lerner that his job is safe but insists he will never be guilty of resting on his laurels.
Lambert has been given assurances by Lerner despite Villa crashing out of the Capital One Cup to Bradford and being embroiled in a Barclays Premier League relegation battle. The Scot has also retained the support of the bulk of the Villa fans apart from "the odd hate mail" as he looks for his side to bounce back in Friday night's FA Cup tie at Millwall.
Lambert said: "Has Lerner said 'your job is safe?' Yes, just the other day. A big call? That's the relationship I have with him. I get on really well with him."
He added: "It's his club and we are trying to do our best for it, get it rebuilt down the certain path we want to go down. He and Paul Faulkner (chief executive) have been really good.
"I think they knew the magnitude of the job that I've got to come into and we have to try to do. I don't want to sit here and feel easy about that (support) and think 'do you know what, we keep getting beat but I'm safe.'
"I don't think 'because the chairman said your job's safe, it doesn't matter about results'. I still feel like c**p. I don't go home and think 'that's all right, it's great and switch off.' "You always used to blame yourself as a footballer for things. As a manager it's tenfold."
The backing of most fans is in contrast to the constant stream of verbal abuse and vitriol suffered by Lambert's predecessor Alex McLeish.
Lambert said: "The ones that I've met have been great. Obviously you get ones that write you a letter or two, they give you a bit. That happens.
"You get the odd hate mail and all that sort of thing, but to be fair the ones that you do meet are nice. I think the majority see what you are trying to do. You just sense they want this club to do well."
Lambert is not planning wholesale changes against Millwall despite Villa having a crucial home league game with fellow strugglers Newcastle next Tuesday. But midfielder Ashley Westwood and striker Jordan Bowery are available after being cup-tied against Bradford.
