Brentford manager Dean Smith has emerged as the early favourite to take charge of Aston Villa after they sacked Steve Bruce.

Bruce’s time at Villa has been under threat since new owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens took control, but now following an in-different start to the season – they have pulled the plug on his tenure.

A Club statement issued on behalf of the Board said:“We would like to place on record our gratitude to Steve and his team for their hard work and commitment. We wish them well for the future.”

Thierry Henry and former Villa captain John Terry have long been linked, and they are amongst the favourites but Bookmakers believe that Brentford boss Dean Smith is the most likely arrival into the hot-seat.

Midlands-born Smith began his managerial career with Walsall and he landed the Bees job in 2015, and they have progressed under his charge to be regular play-off contenders in the Championship.

Smith’s name has been mentioned in recent weeks, and now he is heading the betting at 2/1 ahead of Terry at 7/1 and Henry at 12/1.

Whilst Shakhtar Donetsk’s Paulo Fonseca – who turned down advances from Everton and West Ham over the summer – is also been strongly linked, as he appears high on the radar of Villa’s owners.

Spokesman Paddy Power said: “The betting market for the Aston Villa job is filled with the usual big names, but it’s a less familiar one at the top of the market, in Dean Smith.

“His work with Brentford has no doubt been impressive, but you can guarantee Steve Bruce would point out that the Bees are just two points ahead of the Villains in the table.”