Brentford assistant coach Richard O’Kelly is set to join Dean Smith and become the new assistant manager of Aston Villa, according to Times journalist Matt Hughes. 

The 61-year old has worked with Smith before at both Walsall and more recently Brentford, before 47-year old Smith departed the West London club to succeed Steve Bruce as the new Villa manager.

Villa had already announced that former club captain John Terry would be returning to Vila Park to become Smith’s number two, however reports now suggest that O’Kelly will become the new assistant, with questions marked over Terry’s new role at the club.

If O'Kelly does depart Griffin Park, then the only remaining member of the Bees' backroom staff would be Thomas Frank, who according to reports from Sky Sports, is a contender for the vacant role.

Villa are winless in four league games and sit 15th in the Championship table, whilst Brentford sit 7th in the standings after twelve league games.

The Verdict

What will happen here then? Will both O'Kelly and Terry become assistant managers, or is Terry's future at Villa Park now in the balance?

Whatever happens, it was quite bizarre in the first place that Terry looked nailed on for the assistant manager role regardless of who was appointed as Villa's new manager.

O'Kelly is obviously a figure who Smith knows very well, and could be beneficial as he embarks on a new chapter.