MARTIN O'NEILL quit Aston Villa last night, after Brad Friedel became the latest big name to head for the exit door.
Croatian boss Slaven Bilic is the top tip to replace him, along with USA World Cup chief Bob Bradley.O'Neill was already frustrated by the imminent sale of James Milner to Manchester City.
He was willing to accept that only if he could spend the fee on new quality players.
But cash-strapped owner Randy Lerner insisted it must help balance the books.
Fearing Ashley Young would be sold too, O'Neill was close to calling it quits.
He finally snapped yesterday, though, when keeper Friedel announced he wanted to join Fulham.
An insider said: "That was the final straw for Martin.
"He'd worked so hard to get a top-six place and reach Wembley.
"Now his side was being allowed to disintegrate before his eyes.
"He was left with no alternative but to call it a day after four successful years in charge."
Relations between 58-year-old Irishman O'Neill and American Lerner were amicable until last January. Then they fell out over the club's transfer kitty.
They were talking again this summer but things blew up yesterday, after a meeting with Lerner's right-hand man Paul Faulkner.
O'Neill was told he would not have as much to spend as he wanted, even after the Milner sale to City later this week which could see Stephen Ireland join Villa plus a cash adjustment of up to £18m.
He was also ordered to raise money by selling Steve Sidwell, Luke Young, Curtis Davies, Habib Beye, Nicky Shorey and Nigel Reo-Coker.
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