Incoming assistant manager John Terry has been talking up the new management team at Aston Villa.

The former Chelsea and England man has joined Dean Smith's backroom staff, along with Richard O'Kelly, the one-time Hereford manager turned coach.

Terry returns to the club he served as a player in his final season as a professional and he described the new-look management team as a match made in heaven.

“The quality has always been here and I got an insight into that last season playing here," said Terry to the Express and Star.

“With the intensity the gaffer and Richard will bring as well as the philosophy, it will be a marriage made in heaven.”

Terry called time on his illustrious playing career recently, with his final competitive match coming as captain of Villa as they lost in the play off final to Fulham in May.

He had been linked with a playing return, then touted as a possible number two under Thierry Henry, before finally joining up as part of the former Brentford manager's back room staff.

The first chance to see the new team in action comes this weekend as Villa host Swansea City.

The Verdict

Aston Villa fans will certainly hope it is a match made in heaven as they've surely suffered long enough. Bruce had lost his way and the talented squad were vastly underperforming this season.

Terry knows the club, Smith knows the Championship and O'Kelly knows football. Between them they're hoping to conjure up a method that finally sees this great club back in the top flight.

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