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Aston Villa legend Nigel Spink has backed the club to turn their poor form around, per Express and Star.

Spink spent 19 years at Villa Park between 1977 and 1996, winning the European Cup and the European Super Cup during his time in Birmingham.

What's the word?

Villa have been in dire form under Dean Smith.

The Villans have won two games in their last 13 outings and are currently 10th in the Championship, nine points off sixth-placed Bristol City, who sit in the final play-off spot.

However, Spink remains confident that the club can get back on the up under Smith's management.

Speaking to Express and Star, he said: “I think Dean is the right man long-term and I think the majority of the fans think that.

“Football is not the game it once was and patience runs out quickly. But they have to stick at it, this is not something which is going to be put right overnight.”

However, Spink also believes that there needs to be a major overhaul to the club's playing squad, particularly if Villa fail to win promotion to the Premier League this season.

He added: “Enough is enough. This summer, if the club is still in the Championship as looks likely, is an opportunity to rejuvenate the whole place.

“Dean has the right philosophy and got the team playing the kind of football fans want to see, before Jack Grealish and Axel Tuanzebe got injured. Perhaps there also needs to be an acceptance they are now a Championship club.

“They’ve got an opportunity, at the end of this season, to sort out the playing squad, bring in fresh faces and start taking the club forward.”

Villa need a fitness boost

Villa need a spark of inspiration if they are to rescue their play-off dreams.

Manager Smith has lost key first-team star Grealish to injury but, nevertheless, he has been unable to motivate the club's fit stars.

Their performances in recent weeks have been dire but, per Express and Star, the club are hopeful that Grealish will soon be back to full fitness.

He could make the bench against Stoke City and that may be key for the manager, who needs to turn their form around swiftly.

As it stands, football is a tough business and Spink may not get his wish if form continues to slide, with a sacking far more likely than a commitment to keep him around.