RESULTS & FIXTURES

DEAN SMITH and Aston Villa have been backed to do well in the Premier League... by a Birmingham City player.

Smith is preparing for his first crack at the top flight next season after Aston Villa won the Championship play-off final.

It was a sweet moment for Smith, who grew up locally supporting Villa in a family steeped in claret and blue.

Their promotion has not thrilled many fans across the Second City at bitter rivals Birmingham.

But Blues defender Harlee Dean played under Smith at Brentford before a £2million move to St Andrew’s in 2017.

He reckons Villa’s promotion at the expense of Derby in the final was well-deserved after coming fifth, following an unbeaten 10-game, club-record run – including a 1–0 win at Blues.

Dean, who this week helped launch Birmingham’s new adidas kit, said: “I watched the play-off final. Let’s be honest, you can’t take anything away from Villa.

“They won 10 games in a row, which is different level stuff in this league. They were probably the strongest team in the play-offs as well and one of the better teams we have played this year.

“I think Dean Smith will be great in the Premier League.

“The fact that he was an Aston Villa supporter from a young age as well, it is very special for him.

“It is something dreams are made of. I am over the moon for him. Fair play to them.

“Dean is my old manager and I couldn’t be happier for him and his assistant Richard O’Kelly as well.

“They are up, we would have liked to have played them next season and beaten them, but you never know how the cup runs go.”

Smith will be joined in the top flight by champions Norwich and fellow English boss Chris Wilder, whose Sheffield United side finished runners-up.

Dean added: “Young British managers are being successful. You have Chris Wilder in the Premier League now as well.

“I hope they both do really well and it gives the Championship a good name if they go and stay up.” ■ Dean was speaking in the National Trust’s restored “Back to Backs” in Birmingham at a Peaky Blindersstyle kit launch, which included new sponsor Boyle Sports.

SKY-BLUE FUTURE

COVENTRY aim to finalise a new lease this week to stay at the Ricoh Arena after protracted and bitter negotiations.

The Sky Blues faced being kicked out of the EFL if they failed to secure a new home or sort out their issues at the Ricoh.

But sources close to the League One club reckon a breakthrough is close to being completed with Ricoh Arena owners Wasps. The fixtures are due out on June 20 and the EFL need to know Coventry’s plans to publish game dates.

If things fall through, Coventry’s contingency plan is to groundshare with Birmingham City.

But a deal at St Andrew’s will be expensive, with Blues asking for a seven-figure fee, which eclipses Coventry’s current rent to Wasps.