Bruce hopes Chelsea legend will take coaching role

ASTON VILLA want captain John Terry to delay his return to Chelsea and stay with them as a player-coach.

Manager Steve Bruce is ready to offer Terry a coaching role at Villa Park to stop him leaving in the summer.

Chelsea legend Terry has been heavily linked with a coaching return to Stamford Bridge, when his one-year Villa contract expires at the end of the season.

But Bruce (right) is ready to hand the 37-year-old a tricky decision, by offering him the chance to extend his playing career, while following his coaching ambitions. Bruce is planning talks with Terry once Villa know the outcome of their Championship promotion challenge.

“John will be the one who decides his own destiny,” he said.

“I hope he decides to be a coach here. There could be a part of me that asks, ‘Is he going to play on?’ Certainly, he still has a lot to offer in that department.

“I hope he goes into management, I really do. He has all the leadership skills you would want, but that is his call. I hope he stays here.

“If he wants to do coaching, he can come and be part of our coaching team. I think what is uppermost in his mind, if I know John, will be trying to achieve what he came here for, which is to get this club promoted.”

Terry will skipper Villa at Fulham this afternoon as Bruce’s secondplaced side look to cement their spot in the Championship’s automatic promotion spots. But Bruce claims his side can still chase down leaders Wolves, who are currently 12 points clear at the top. “Wolves have been the outstanding team,” added Bruce. “The amount of points they’ve got now is enormous for this part of the season.

“All credit to them, they’ve had an unbelievable campaign, but they’re still there to be shot at.

“I remember chasing Newcastle a few years ago with Manchester United and nobody gave us a chance.

“We fluked a 1-0 win at St James’ Park when Eric Cantona scored at the far post and, all of a sudden, we were on their coattails and ended up winning the league by 12 points, so it’s all to play for.”

Bruce is sweating on the fitness of Albert Adomah (hamstring) and Jack Grealish (calf) ahead of the game at Craven Cottage.