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Aston Villa are now seriously weighing up the possibility of pairing Dean Smith with John Terry as the hunt for a new management team continues.

The club are still working through their shortlist and have contacted a number of candidates following Thierry Henry’s decision to reject Villa in favour of an expected move to Monaco.

Rui Faria was one of the options although sources have told us that he is not currently interested in the role.

BirminghamLive understands that Smith has now been sounded out and is now very much a front-runner.

Read the latest updates in our liveblog.

Terry has also told friends that he will be returning to Villa in some capacity, almost certainly as the No.2 behind a new manager.

If it gets to the stage where Smith is offered the job, he must then weigh up whether he wants to work alongside Terry, who retired over the weekend after leaving Villa in the summer.

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It’s a surprising double-act to say the least but our understanding is that it's the way Villa’s CEO Christian Purslow want to go.

Villa’s coaching team is completely bare following the mass exodus that followed Steve Bruce’s sacking.

There is, therefore, space for the new manager to bring in some of his own staff so Smith, the current Brentford manager, would also need to discuss the future of his assistant Richard O’Kelly who has worked alongside him for some time.

Villa are sticking to their plan to get a new man in before the home game with Swansea on October 20.

John Terry latest

John Terry has expressed his determination to step into management - but declined to comment on speculation linking him with Aston Villa .

The former Chelsea star spoke for the first time about his decision to end his playing career - and his desire to make the transition into the dugout.

However, he did not talk any specifics despite being linked with a role at Villa Park.

BirminghamLive understands that he's already told friends he is returning back to Villa. But in an interview he avoided questioning and said:

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“I’m ready for the next chapter in my life,” Terry told Sky Sports . “Let’s see what the future brings. Hopefully it brings half the success I had as a player.

“I am excited, you are a long time retired I understand that, I felt I could still play but I feel like I have made the right decision at the right time in my career

“I am ready for the next challenge and next step whatever that might be.

“It’s an ambition of mine [to be a manager], it has been for a long time.

“I have ambitions and aspirations to be a coach, a manager, in the long run. But, like I said, it’s about taking time to reflect. That’s the most important thing for me.”

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Terry had a glittering playing career at Chelsea, winning multiple trophies as well as captaining his country.

His final season was spent with Bruce at Villa and his last game will be that painful play-off final defeat to Fulham in May.