Brian Little: Dean Smith is leading Aston Villa toward a bright new era in the Premier League

The former player and manager, now an advisor to the board, watched with delight as Dean Smith engineered a dramatic last season charge to secure promotion through the play-offs.

Villa, back in the top flight after three seasons in the Championship, have sold a record 30,000 season tickets with excitement levels among supporters reaching almost unprecedented levels.

Little believes the momentum gained in recent months is comparable to that during his playing days in the 1970s, when the club climbed back from the Third Division before eventually going on to win the league and European Cup.

“I’ve felt it for a period of time now, a real togetherness,” he said. “I have been at this club for a long time now and I have seen three big waves of momentum.

“The first was after the 69-70 season, coming in and seeing the club relegated to the Third Division and 12 years later winning the European Cup.

“I wasn’t here for the Graham Taylor revival in the late 80s but that led into Ron (Atkinson) being successful as a manager, me being successful as a manager and John (Gregory) to being successful.

“That momentum of a team, I do feel it now, genuinely. I think the supporters feel it too. There is a real togetherness.

“No-one is jumping up and down and saying we are going to do this, that or the other this season.

“But I think we will be OK. I think we will be a good side in this league. I genuinely believe we will be competitive.”

Backed by billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, this summer has seen a major rebuild of Villa’s squad, with nine senior players departing the club and 12 arriving at a cost of around £130million.

It has drawn scepticism from some outside the Midlands and led to comparisons with Fulham’s ill-fated £100million splurge of 12 months ago.

But Little, who carried out an extensive, if slower squad overhaul after taking charge as manager in November, 1994, believes Smith, chief executive Christian Purslow and sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch have done their homework.

He said: “I am not surprised we have done what we have in the transfer market.

“It is similar to 1994/95 when I came in and the club was struggling. After I kept them up I was looking for younger players, people who you felt might be able to walk out on that stage at Villa Park and perform.

“It was time for something different and I feel the same now. It is time for the type of player they are signing.

“I know a lot of people say if you buy a lot of players it takes time for them to gel. But I honestly think if you do your work properly, you get the type of player you want.

“I’m very comfortable, watching what is going on. It is a challenge but if you have done your homework and know exactly what you want it can work.

“They have picking players for specific roles. It is a structured plan and I think they are executing it very well.”

Brian Little was speaking at the launch of the Football Welcomes Community Project, a three-year initiative to harness the power of the game to create more welcoming communities for refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK.

Villa, through their charity arm the Aston Villa Foundation, are one of six clubs taking part in the scheme.