Sacked Dean Smith insists he would have led Aston Villa to a top-half finish

Sacked Aston Villa manager Dean Smith believes he would have ended their slump in form if he had been given more time.

The 50-year-old was axed on Sunday after three years in charge with Villa lying 16th in the Premier League.

He took Villa back to the top flight in 2019 and helped them beat the drop on the final day in 2020. They finished 11th last season but sold skipper Jack Grealish to Manchester City for £100million.

Smith was relieved of his duties after a run of five straight defeats, the latest at Southampton

Smith signed Emi Buendia, for a record deal worth £38m, from Norwich while also buying Leon Bailey and Danny Ings to replace Grealish in the summer. But Villa fired the former Walsall and Brentford boss after a run of five straight defeats.

‘To be appointed the head coach of Aston Villa, the club I supported throughout my childhood, was and remains something I am extremely proud of,’ said Smith, via a statement from the League Managers Association.

In a statement, Smith also highlighted his work in developing £100m Man City star Jack Grealish (right)

‘Having led the club back to the Premier League ahead of schedule and at the first time of asking after three years in the Championship, the next challenge was to help overhaul the squad and create a group good enough to survive that all-important first season back in the Premier League.

‘In doing so, I believe those…