Aston Villa adds Ray Wilkins to coaching staff under Tim Sherwood

Ray Wilkins is to join the coaching staff at Aston Villa after holding talks with manager Tim Sherwood.

The 58-year-old has revealed he is to link up with Sherwood at Villa Park as the club attempts to move on from last season's fight for Barclays Premier League survival.

Wilkins told Sky Sports News: "I was talking to Tim Sherwood – I have been for the last couple of weeks – about going on board and joining the coaching staff and assisting.

"Tim has just now confirmed that I will be going on board. I'm absolutely thrilled to be back involved.

"There's only one place to be – the Premier League is the place to go in, and I will be assisting Kevin McDonald, Tim and the whole shooting match.

"Over my coaching career, I've been involved with a lot of managers of an extremely high level, and I've learnt off each and every one of them. Hopefully I can give the lads at Villa that type of experience."

Former England midfielder Wilkins, who enjoyed a glittering playing career with Chelsea, Manchester United, AC Milan and Paris St Germain among others, served on the staff at Stamford Bridge under Gianluca Vialli, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlo Ancelotti in two spells and has worked with England's Under-21s and managed the Jordan national side.

He will hope to bring his extensive knowledge of the game to Villa, who eventually finished last season 17th in the Barclays Premier League, three points clear of the drop zone after a concerted late push got them out of trouble.

Wilkins said: "They should be a top-10 team in the Premier League, simple as that. They showed at the end of last season what they can achieve, and we'll work hard to do that.

"They've got a good squad, but it can work a lot better and a lot harder."