As Aston Villa chairman . . .yes, still Villa chairman, despite all the predictions to the contrary, although he claims that takeover talks are "ongoing" . . . Doug Ellis acclaims his prized acquisition, the man beside him wouldn't immediately strike the uninitiated as a messianic figure. Indeed, he could have been a local solicitor, who'd had wandered in off the streets, en route to doing a spot of conveyancing.

Of course, Martin O'Neill, had he utilised his talents differently, could well have turned out to be rather more that that. He may now be practising as a hot-shot lawyer, if an affinity with a football and the fact that he possessed the brain to employ it wisely, hadn't transformed his career expectations all those years ago in Belfast.

In recent months, as time passed, and other vacancies with which he had been associated were seized by others, there was just a suspicion that life had perhaps more to offer the former Northern Ireland international than team-talks and tactic boards.

But a 15-month hiatus to spend time with his wife Geraldine, who is fighting cancer, has regenerated his desire for the occupation which has been an obsession since he set out as manager of Granthan Town in 1987.

"I missed the game, " declares O'Neill. "I missed it from the day I said I wasn't going to be managing Celtic any more. It's been 15 months.

At times, it's been like 15 years. That first summer was okay; but last season, when the season kicked off again I really did miss it. I missed the interaction with players on a day-to-day basis, but match-days are what you'd miss most."

The man who made his name as a midfielder at Nottingham Forest, predictably arrives with his familiar band of merry men, "Little John" (Robertson, his assistant) and Steve "Will Scarlett" Walford (coach).

As O'Neill had arrived at Villa Park, around 1000 diehards had hailed him. O'Neill professes himself overwhelmed while Ellis estimates that a managerial arrival, and he's had a few, had not engendered so much enthusiasm since the coming of Tommy Docherty or maybe "Big Ron" Atkinson.

A woman reporter, of relatively tender years, suggested that the challenge of the Premiership could be a considerable contrast to the SPL. "You're probably too young to remember this, " O'Neill responds in a tone that is charming rather than patronising. "But I was here before a number of years ago (as manager of Leicester who were promoted to the elite under him in 1996), so I've a fair idea what the Premiership is about. The game has probably changed a little bit, and I'll have to adjust to that."

I put it to him that during his five years in Scotland, the English Premiership has more than changed "a bit".

Well, Abramovich has completely changed the game, " he says. "He's moved the goalposts somewhat." Ellis interrupts, as he is liable to do:

"No-one can compete with Abramovich's millions; noone, not Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, but that doesn't mean to say we can't beat them."

Early evidence of the pressure that the chairman brings to the job?

"The chairman's right, " O'Neill says. "The alternative is rather unpleasant, isn't it? You just pack in and go home."

Earlier, O'Neill had insisted, when asked about his wife's illness, that he didn't want any "sympathetic votes".

However, he does concede:

"I don't think my outlook on football has changed at all, but in terms of life I have a different perspective than I had maybe a couple of years ago."

You have different priorities?

"Absolutely, " he agrees.

Then reconsiders what that answer implies. "Hey, but don't get me wrong. Football's of vital consequence to me.

Vital consequence." He adds:

"Look, every single person in this room today has had problems to overcome. I don't have a monopoly on these things. I will be judged on winning football games and bringing some decent days back to Villa. That's what I want to do, with a bit of panache and a bit of excitement."

He was asked if he had sought Geraldine's approval of this return to work?

"She will tell you that I very seldom ask her anything, " he says. "She just has to follow.

I'm actually one of the very few men in this life who's not under the thumb. I'm stronger than that. And I'd say that if she was here now."

He adds, in a more serious tone that his wife's condition "was a concern, absolutely.

But thankfully things are not so bad."

Villa's first Premiership game under O'Neill is Arsenal away in two weeks. "That's some baptism, " he says, before departing to join up with the players he has inherited from David O'Leary who have three friendlies in Holland and Germany, including at Hanover last night, to demonstrate their quality.

"There is only two weeks which is not a great deal of time, but you're dealt with that and get on with it."

He adds: "There's nothing ideal about life. I take ownership of the football club today, in terms of the team, and in a couple of months time whatever position we find ourselves, nobody will care less about how much time there was to prepare them. Whatever happens is on my head. I take full responsibility."

And for that, a sizeable chunk of the west Midlands is exceedingly grateful.

HOW O'NEILL REVITALISED CELTIC

2000-2001 Rangers were the dominant force in Scottish football after Dick Advocaat guided the team to five trophies in two seasons. However, a 6-2 defeat by Celtic in O'Neill's first Old Firm derby was a shot across the Rangers bows. Celtic collected the CIS Insurance Cup before the title was secured at Parkhead. A 3-0 win over Hibernian in the Scottish Cup final saw them collect their first domestic treble since 1969.

2001-2002 O'Neill's first foray into the Champions League was a blistering 3-1 win in Amsterdam against Ajax. But better still was to come for Celtic fans as they entered the lucrative group stages for the first time. Domestic football saw them retain the SPL.

2002-2003 At the start of March, Celtic were chasing silverware on four fronts before defeats by Rangers and Inverness saw them miss out on the domestic cup competitions. Rangers claimed the SPL title on a thrilling final day but what O'Neill achieved in Europe attracted more attention.

After beating the likes of Celta Vigo, Stuttgart and Liverpool, Celtic reached their first European final since 1970 against Porto but O'Neill could only watch as his 10-man team missed out on the UEFA Cup.

2003-2004 The pressure was on O'Neill to rally his troops for the new campaign but fans need not have worried as Celtic began to peak.

They clinched the title before the SPL split and claimed a second domestic double.

After narrowly missing out on a place in the Champions League knockout stage, Celtic were paired with Barcelona in the UEFA Cup fourth round. Alan Thompson scored the only goal of the game in the home leg and a goalless draw at the Nou Camp saw Celtic progress to the last eight.

2004-2005 In Europe, there was another Champions League disappointment as Celtic finished bottom of their pool. The SPL title was snatched from Celtic's grasp by Rangers on the last day of the season however O'Neill signed off by beating Dundee United 1-0 in the Scottish Cup final.