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# Former Aston Villa stars welcome appointment of Dean Smith as manager
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/former-aston-villa-stars-welcome-appointment-of-dean-smith-as-manager/
- Published: 2018-10-11T06:41:37.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-14T10:05:19.000Z
- Description: Former Aston Villa players have welcomed the appointment of Dean Smith as manager.
- Author: Birmingham Eastside
- Tags: Sport, Aston Villa, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

Former Aston Villa players have welcomed [the appointment of Dean Smith as manager](https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/aston-villa-appoint-dean-smith-as-new-manager/).

Smith quit Brentford last night before being confirmed as Steve Bruce's replacement.

John Gregory, Stan Collymore and Lee Hendrie are among those to take to social media to welcome the new manager.

https://twitter.com/JohnGregory77/status/1050257667074080768?s=19

https://twitter.com/StanCollymore/status/1050152082550996992?s=19

https://twitter.com/leehendrie77/status/1050135211898486798?s=19