Arbitration panel to meet over Martin O'Neill departure from Aston Villa

O'Neill left Villa five days before the start of the season (Getty Images)

A Premier League managers' arbitration tribunal will meet today to consider the circumstances that led to Martin O'Neill's abrupt departure from Aston Villa, Press Association Sport understands.

O'Neill enjoyed a successful four-year association with the midlands club after taking over from David O'Leary in August 2006.

He led them to three successive top-six finishes in the Premier League and the 2010 Carling Cup final.

But the former Leicester and Celtic boss opted to leave just five days before the start of the campaign in August.

A League Managers' Association mediation panel failed to resolve the dispute between O'Neill and Villa at the tail-end of 2010.

As a result, the Premier League tribunal, which is being chaired by a QC, will meet in London and can sit in judgement for at least a week

There is also no deadline for when the ruling of the arbitration tribunal has to be announced

It will be only the third such tribunal in recent history after those involving Alan Curbishley and Kevin Keegan following their departure from West Ham and Newcastle respectively.

O'Neill is now being strongly linked with the vacant post at relegated West Ham following the sacking of Avram Grant.

He was eventually replaced by Gerard Houllier - currently recovering from a heart problem - at Villa Park.