Football Insider pundit Alex McLeish has been reacting to rumours regarding the future of Aston Villa manager Dean Smith.

The Lowdown: Smith fighting for job?

Football Insider shared a story on Tuesday, claiming Smith may well be fighting for his job at Villa Park.

A Villa source informed the site that Smith could come under increasing pressure if results don’t improve prior to the next international break.

Villa face Everton, Manchester United and Tottenham before the next domestic break, so it seems as if those three games could be vital when it comes to his future.

The Latest: McLeish reacts

McLeish was asked for his views on the report by Football Insider's source, with the 62-year-old admitting he was ‘surprised’ at the rumours.

“Any time I’ve had success in my football career, it’s always been because of a positive relationship with the people upstairs.

“I was surprised to hear this about Smith. It seems like he’s doing a good job.

“I know my old player Alan Hutton thinks very highly of him. It was a surprise.

“The surprise is that nothing is surprising in football. He has been given a lot of financial support from the board over the last couple of years.

“That was to get them to the status of a permanent Premier League club. It’s surprising he has been given that support and then there are rumours.

“They need to make a statement or let Dean get on with it because that is hampering the manager’s thought process.”

The Verdict: Performances crucial

Football is a results business, so if Villa fail to add to their four-point tally over the coming weeks, the Villa hierarchy may well have no other choice but to part ways with Smith.

It would be a surprise if that is the case, especially with Smith being the man to lead the club back into the Premier League and Villa chiefs backing him with an £89.84m spend over the summer.

However, on the other hand, a positive result against Everton could do wonders in regards to silencing any speculation surrounding his future, so it appears as if the next few weeks could be key.

In other news: 'What a mess', 'Smith out' - Matt Maher's Aston Villa update has lots of fans fuming.