Report: Aston Villa owners’ stance on sacking Smith, 48-year-old could come in

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Aston Villa are currently likely to give Dean Smith at least one more game to save himself from the sack after losing at Southampton on Friday night, according to Birmingham Live.

Adam Armstrong scored the only goal of the game, three-minutes into the St Mary’s clash to extend Villa’s misery.

Smith has now overseen five-straight defeats in the Premier League since Aston Villa beat Manchester United at Old Trafford. It is also the first time in his managerial career to lose five on the bounce, after 484 games.

Aston Villa are now creeping ever closer to the relegation zone amid their dire run of form.

But those closest to Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, plus CEO Christian Purslow, doubt the axe will fall on Smith’s tenure, which hit the third-year mark on October 10, yet.

Instead, they will likely give Smith at least Aston Villa’s next Premier League fixture against Brighton to save his job. The Seagulls travel to Birmingham after the international break.

Smith should also welcome Aston Villa’s missing quartet of Douglas Luiz, Danny Ings, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Sanson back on November 20.

Handing him another potential lifeline, after The Athletic reported defeat at Southampton could spark a review by Aston Villa’s hierarchy into whether or not Smith should be fired.

Who could replace Smith as the next Aston Villa manager?

The international break could have been an ideal time for Aston Villa to install a new boss, but will instead give Smith a chance to create plans that he hopes will keep him in charge.

Smith will know Brighton marks a must-win fixture after five-straight defeats, plus reports of a potential replacement. The Daily Mail claimed before Villa travelled to Southampton that Villa had already contacted Paulo Fonseca.

Villa made an informal approach to the out-of-work 48-year-old to sound out his possible interest. Fonseca spoke with Tottenham Hotspur this summer and Newcastle United last month over a potential return the game. But could see both head to other candidates.