Aston Villa assistant manager John Terry is among the favourites to become Derby County’s new manager following Phillip Cocu’s sacking in mid-November, according to Sky Sports – potentially following in Frank Lampard’s footsteps as a former Chelsea player to manage the Rams.
The 39-year-old has been assistant to Dean Smith since October 2018 and said at the time of his arrival at Villa Park that he wants to be a manager eventually.
Derby County are undergoing a takeover led by Sheikh Khaled’s Derventio Holdings, who are buying out Mel Morris, and Terry is believe to be keen on joining the project.
The Rams currently sit rock bottom of the Championship with eight points from 15 games, having won just once all season, but they may spend in January to haul themselves off the foot of the table.
Terry and Derby’s interim player-manager Wayne Rooney are the two favourites to get the job.
READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT
Terry leaving for Derby would be a setback for Villa, as he played his part in their promotion back to the Premier League in 2019 and their last-gasp survival in the top flight last summer.
Smith has been full of praise for Terry as his assistant and previously tipped him to be a successful manager in the future. The Villa boss won’t stand in his way, so it could be JT’s last season at the club if Derby make a formal approach.
In other news, Aston Villa have been given an injury boost ahead of their meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers
