Aston Villa chief Christian Purslow is plotting to appoint Brentford’s Dean Smith as manager alongside John Terry in the capacity of an assistant boss in a managerial double act, according to the Birmingham Mail.
The newspaper claim on their website that the Championship boss has become one of Villa’s top targets after missing out on the likes of Thierry Henry and Rui Faria, and that the club are keen to bring him in alongside former defender Terry, who is another that has been sounded out as a replacement for Steve Bruce.
It is stated that 37-year-old Terry, who hung up his playing boots last week, has told friends that he is to rejoin Villa in a senior capacity, and the expectation is he will be number two to an experienced figure.
Opinion
Villa seem to have been torn between the prospect of bringing in an experienced head to lead the club to success this season and appointing a big, but unproven, name in order to ignite their campaign. It seems as though they have managed to find a compromise which ticks both boxes, and the Smith/Terry duo could well be an inspired move for the club. The former brings in his knowledge and expertise of managing in the second tier, having impressed in recent times, while the latter is wanting to get his foot onto the managerial ladder, and is obviously highly thought of by those in the Villa Park boardroom. Together, they could bring the best out of each other, imparting their own abilities and views and leading the club to the glory that they seek. It might not be the most exciting move for the Villans’ fans but it is a sensible decision which is low risk and possibly high reward.