The three best candidates for the vacant Aston Villa managerial role

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Dean Smith

Dean Smith has what Steve Bruce doesn’t. Smith is a lifelong Villa fan, and certainly hasn’t been tainted by managing a West Midland football rival (I highly doubt Walsall counts – apologies to any Saddlers fan reading this).

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Smith, in normal circumstances, may not want to leave a club he only joined about a year ago and has guided to 7^th in the table to join a club in 19^th. That said, due to the fact Smith is a supporter of Villa this is no ordinary circumstances.

He may not be a big name that the Holte Enders desire, but lest it not be forgotten the fantastic rebuilding programme that Smith carried out at Walsall. Smith built Walsall into a strong League One side, and guided them to Wembley for the first time in their history in the Football League Cup.

All this was achieved on a budget exponentially smaller than one he’ll have a Villa, meaning he may well be able to do a similar rebuilding job at the club he loves.