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Dean Smith reveals hour-long FaceTime chat convinced him to get John Terry on board at Aston Villa

New boss Dean Smith has revealed how an hour-long FaceTime chat with John Terry helped convince him to bring the former skipper back to Villa.

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Terry has returned as part of Smith’s coaching staff and the new head coach, speaking yesterday for the first time since his appointment, confirmed the decision was very much his own.

The pair had an existing relationship going back several years and Smith believes Terry, who was also on Villa’s shortlist to replace Steve Bruce, has plenty to offer as an assistant.

He explained: “When I discussed the role I was told there was an opportunity to take John.

“I knew if we spoke we could both come up with good enough honest answers to see if we both want to move on with it or not.

“So that’s what we did. Me and John spoke about it and decided it was right. If it wasn’t, we both could have said no. I would have been the head coach and looking to bring someone else in.

“But I felt it was a win-win for both of us. We probably spent an hour on FaceTime.

“He was warming up for a pro-am golf event and probably wanted it to be quicker. To be fair we both had really good questions we wanted to ask.”

Terry, who made 36 appearances for Villa last season, will work alongside Richard O’Kelly as Smith’s assistant. The trio took training together for the first time yesterday.

Villa have conceded 20 goals in just 12 games this term but Smith quashed any talk of the 37-year-old, who recently announced his retirement, playing again.

He added: “I thought John was a good fit. I want coaches who are going to come and challenge me and make me better as well.

“He knows the players, he knows the dressing room, he knows the club. They are three things that tick the box.

“He’s very humble but he is asking questions already and that’s the sign, for me, of someone who wants to progress.”

Smith, who grew up a Villa supporter, insisted the decision to leave Brentford and return to the Midlands was based on rational thinking and not emotion.

The 47-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal and believes promotion can be achieved this season.

He said: “I have not really been given any short-term goals. Obviously we want to get promoted as quickly as possible.

“I have signed for this year and another two. There are three opportunities to get promoted and I hope it is the first one we take.”