Dean Smith says Aston Villa's owners want the club to become part of the Premier League elite.
The Midlands giants consolidated their standing in the competition for a second straight season, following their promotion in 2019.
And Smith says the club want to "emulate and surpass" the success of the likes of Leicester City, who have breached the English football hegemony in recent seasons.
"From my interactions with the owners so far, they are very astute businessmen who have a strategic plan for Aston Villa," said Smith.
"Part of that plan is to go and compete with the upper echelons of this league. That's where they want the club to go, they want to grow the brand of Aston Villa football club all across the world as well. But they are also aware that takes time.
"I speak to them regularly during our board calls and they are very ambitious but the key word is 'strategic'. They build a plan and then they follow it through. Every Aston Villa fan can feel in safe hands with these owners."
He added: "You look at the infrastructure and [Leicester's] brand new training ground, which is incredible.
"Our owners are doing exactly the same at our training ground at Aston Villa. Hopefully the Midlands is thriving again. Obviously Leicester are the ones we look up to at the moment and try to emulate – and hopefully pass."
