Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has promoted Kevin MacDonald to his coaching staff.

The 50-year-old, who had a temporary spell in charge of the first team following Martin O'Neill's departure last year, had been manager of the club's reserve side.

MacDonald will now assist McLeish along with fellow coaches Peter Grant and Gordan Cowans.

"I've changed the coaching staff round a little bit," McLeish told the club's official website. "We've enhanced it.

"We've got Sid [Cowans] there and Peter obviously, my assistant, and I've promoted Kevin to help with the first team as well. At a club like this we need all the best coaches we can get."

The club have also confirmed that an unnamed academy coach will take over from MacDonald with the Villains' second string.