Christian Purslow: New Aston Villa boss Dean Smith will get funds in January

Negotiating FFP has been an ongoing issue for Villa since their relegation from the Premier League in 2016 and regularly cited as a reason former owner Tony Xia tightening the purse strings.

But Purslow, who was appointed in August by new majority shareholders Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, insists the club does have room to manoeuvre within the current rules, which permit Championship clubs maximum losses of £39million over the course of three seasons.

Asked whether Villa would be compliant with FFP regulations next year, Purslow replied: “I’m not just confident, I’m highly respectful of the regime.

“The profitability and sustainability rules that govern the league we play in are part of the broader fair play regime that, many years ago, I sat on the working group and brought those rules in. We’re highly respectful of them and are of course navigating within those rules.

“It changes nothing. We are determined to support our new management team in improving this squad where needing to do so and can easily do so with the financial resources within the rules.”

Purslow will allow Smith to make an assessment of the playing squad over the coming weeks, before sitting down to discuss plans for the January with the head coach and Jesus Garcia Pitarch, Villa’s new sporting director.

The chief executive described Pitarch as a ‘crucial appointment’ for the club.

He said: “Jesus has enormous experience with two Spanish clubs, Valencia and Atletico Madrid in a sporting director capacity.

“I expect Dean, Jesus, myself in the next four to eight weeks to listen to Dean’s initial assessment of the squad, to talk to Jesus and to build a plan for the season and the future. If that includes players leaving and joining in January, then that will be absolutely fine.”

Purslow led the search for Villa’s new boss following Steve Bruce’s dismissal earlier this month.

He described Smith, who was on a shortlist which also included Thierry Henry and Jose Mourinho’s long-time assistant Rui Faria, as possessing ‘outstanding qualities’.

Purslow said: “Dean is hugely experienced in English football and hugely experienced in the Championship.

“He has dedicated his career to a very recognisable playing style. He has committed to that playing style through thick and thin.

“Most importantly, he has a very recognisable philosophy. His motivation, his energy and his hunger to manage at the highest level is another outstanding feature.

“He understands what Villa is all about. Those are very good qualities to make an outstanding manager of Aston Villa.”