Steve Bruce hopes to get the chance to continue as Aston Villa boss, but “wouldn’t be surprised” if the Sky Bet Championship club’s new owners want to bring in a new face.

Billionaire duo Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens have arrived in Birmingham and have set up a meeting with Bruce, with the new season rapidly approaching.

Thierry Henry has been linked with the hotseat at Villa Park, but Bruce told BirminghamLive: “I made myself clear two weeks ago when I said, ‘Look, whatever the state the club is in I think it needs me’.

“The new owners might want to have their own man in. All the indications are that that’s not the case but until I get in front of them we won’t know.

“I don’t think it’s important now to talk about myself. The good thing is that we can move forward. I hope they give me the opportunity, I really do, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not going to be that way because we’ve seen it many times.

“This feels like I’m just starting again. We’ve lost something like seven or eight players who played in the play-off final so it feels like we’re starting over again.

“But we’ve still got some very good players at the club and I hope that I get given the chance – but that’s not my choice.”

According to reports emerging this morning, Thierry Henry has 'verbally agreed' to take over at Villa Park, sparking further speculation that Bruce will be on his way out.

There are serious problems mounting off the pitch at Villa, with failure to land promotion back to the Premier League causing the club major financial difficulties.

They've already had to release John Terry, and it's looking likely they'll lose key duo Jack Grealish and James Chester.

With futures of the players uncertain, the last thing Villa need as a club is more uncertainty surrounding the manager.