[ENGLAND] In an interview that aired Sunday morning on BBC Radio show Sportsweek only hours before Aston Villa went out and got crushed, 6-0, by Newcastle in the Magpies' first game at St. James' Park since they return to the Premier League, U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley said he would be interested in discussing the Villa managerial position left vacant by Martin O'Neill's resignation on the eve of the start of the season.

(Click here to listen to Sunday's BBC Sportweek.)

Asked if he was interested in the job, Bradley responded, "Of course, I think Aston Villa is a massive club with a great history and a great following, and those type of opportunities would of course be of interest.”

But he said he had no offer from Villa and the conversations his representatives had with Villa were exploratory in nature only.

"I had some people who did some checking to find out where things stood," he said.

O’Neill reportedly quit over disagreements with Villa's American owner, Randy Lerner whom Bradley praised.

"I think that it's pretty clear that Randy Lerner really has done a solid job making sure that tradition is being kept and really across things at Aston Villa have been done well," said Bradley.

Assistant Kevin MacDonald is Villa's interim manager.

"They have a very good man in Kevin MacDonald who is highly respected in the club and I think on the one hand they are probably putting a list together and on the other hand making sure Kevin has the time to consider his future as well," said Bradley. "It's been handled very well.”

Villa also has three Americans playing on its first team -- goalies Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan and defender Eric Lichaj.

Guzan and Lichaj played Thursday in Villa's 1-1 tie at Rapid Vienna in the Europa League qualifying, while Friedel was in goal at Newcastle.

Asked if he's rather take a new job or return as national team coach, Bradley responded, "I think there are challenges on both sides."

He said it was "an important next step" for American coaches to work in Europe.

(SOCCER AMERICA READERS: Should Bob Bradley stay as U.S. national team coach or pursue a position elsewhere? Should he look in MLS or abroad? Should Aston Villa hire him as manager? Let us know in comments below.)