Ignoring recommendations that Terry could undermine him, Villa's new administrator said he is anticipating building up a beneficial working association with the previous Chelsea and England commander.
"When I talked about the job there was a chance," Smith said. "I was advised there was a chance to take John and I said in the event that I address John I figure we can both think of sufficient, legit answers to check whether we both need to proceed onward with it or not.
"That is the thing that we did. Me and John talked about it and chose it was correct. On the off chance that it wasn't we both could have said no. What's more, I would be the head mentor at Aston Villa and hoping to bring another person in. Yet, I felt it was a success win for the two of us. It was my choice to get John."
Smith, a childhood Villa fan, said he addressed Terry for an hour prior to choosing to make him a player in his instructing staff. The previous Brentford director said playing for Villa last season helped the 37-year-old's case. Terry will work intimately with Richard O'Kelly, who has pursued Smith to Villa Park.
"At the point when the open door emerged, we talked finally about how we saw the job pushing ahead," Smith said. "I thought he was a solid match. At Brentford I worked with two mentors underneath me in Thomas Frank and Richard O'Kelly. Thomas Frank was a previous head mentor at Brondby. I need mentors who are going to come and challenge me and improve me too.
Smith expelled recommendations that John Terry could be highlighted in Villa's first group. "I think he made it clear to everyone a week ago that he was hanging up his boots and resigning," he said. "This is presently his apprenticeship into instructing. He will get the hours in with us. I'm very complimented he's picked to work with us and Richard, to get those instructing hours in and realize what we do. He had his pencil case with him today and sat in the workplace at 7.30am. He'll be there today around evening time and acquire his rest."