Aston Villa manager John Gregory has thanked his Newcastle counterpart Bobby Robson for the support and words of advice he gave him when his job was on the line.

But he doesn't believe 67-year-old Robson could put up with 15 years of managership in the Premier League.

He said: ''I don't think for one minute that I'll be managing a club at 67. For him to still have that hunger and enthusiasm at his age is fabulous. He is quite an amazing bloke.

''But he's only been involved for little over a year in the Premiership as it is today. I don't think Bobby Robson at my age (47) could put up with 15 years of the Premier League.

''It can be very demanding, the constant media attention. It's the best job in the world but I couldn't see me doing it for much more than another ten years because there are other things in life.

''There is unbelievable hassle with the manager's job in the Premiership. It is never totally smooth. There are hiccups here and there, that's the nature of it.

''You think everything is going well and then a player says 'I want to leave'. There is a lot of rubbish to put up with, such as wading through agents, people constantly phoning up recommending players.

''There are lots of problems with the job but I would still never swap it for anything. But after ten more years it might be different.''

Gregory, whose side tackle Newcastle at Villa Park today, was in a precarious position when the two clubs clashed 12 months ago and a goal from Duncan Ferguson ensured victory for the Geordies.

But Robson took the trouble to spend half an hour with Gregory before the game urging him to stick to his beliefs and then afterwards said it would be ''crazy'' if he was sacked.

Gregory said: ''What Bobby said meant a lot to me. Sometimes all of us are so wrapped up in our clubs and trying to keep our heads above water that we don't have much sympathy for other managers having a rough time. But he gave a lot of good sound managerial advice."

Gregory is anticipating a tough battle. He said: ''They had a great win over Liverpool last weekend but I think it took a lot out of them because they didn't look quite themselves against Birmingham.

''Birmingham worked them very hard and their never-say-die attitude won them the game.

''You need that against Newcastle because if you stand off them and let them play they are still one of the best footballing teams in the Premiership.''

l Arsene Wenger has questioned the validity of the FA's controversial video panel as he waits for the verdict on whether Arsenal's French midfielder Patrick Vieira will be charged with misconduct.

Referee Dermot Gallagher booked seven Arsenal players in the 1-0 defeat at Leeds last Sunday but took no action against Vieira over two incidents which involved the hosts' Olivier Dacourt and Eirik Bakke.

Even so the FA has called in its panel, comprising former players and other famous football figures, to recommend whether or not Vieira has a case to answer.

But Arsenal boss Wenger said: ''I thought the idea of the panel was to make a judgment on something the referee misses.

''But I have watched the film of the Leeds game and it is clear that the referee's positioning in both incidents is perfect.