Alan Sheehan will be updated today on the state of play regards his future at Swansea City. It may not be the end of discussions but impatience is the thing amongst Swans fans this morning. There has already been a discussion between Richard Montague and Sheehan but some formalities to consider are now on the table. That may well be the latest information, but we will add that it is not necessarily the whole story.

Here’s why.

Alan Sheehan will be presented with and be completely aware of his circumstances by the end of this week. That doesn’t mean the club can make any comments just yet (obviously they could do) but Sheehan will be given time to digest what is on offer. As many know - these are his options.

1. Be asked to carry on for a prescribed number of matches.
2. Offered to take the team as an interim manager until May this year.
3. Get a job offer as permanent manager.

They are his options but of course he wants a lot of other questions answered.

1. The squad depth and overall strength this summer.
2. Targets and possibilities of signing them
3. His own remuneration should he step up to permanent manager
4. Retention of current staff and two coaches he wants to be appointed if he gets the permanent role.
5. His future opportunities at Swansea should a new head coach be appointed.

We can assure you his current salary is quite low compared to other coaches in the Championship. Plus he wants an increase in his salary if he is to continue in the interim role (Sources) In the cases of the current contenders there is no way they will take the job alone without their own back up and coaching staff. In the case of current Swans coaches Kristian O’Leary and to a lot lesser degree, Martyn Margetson they too will need some form of communication regards their future. Much respected U21 coach, Anthony Wright will surely return to his position before Luke Williams was sacked. He is a coach no club should even consider removing.

4. How certain are the club they have a head coach that can be brought in between now and the summer ? This week as we reported two days ago, no contender is British. However, that isn’t the end of the journey things can change. But that is very much the case with the current crop of potential managers. We now understand there has been continual dialogue with two of them, and the Swans continue to do their due diligence via Richard Montague. If a manager is appointed it doesn’t end there, before that process ends there are many logistics to put in place, including a salary which will dwarf anything Sheehan is on. Then all the usual family, housing, schooling, transport etc …

That places Sheehan in a strong position as he knows the club will save money by keeping him on, as we have said, he is by far the cheapest option. An external appointment will run to a pretty penny. The main viewpoint is amongst some of the people we talk to is that Sheehan will get the role for a prescribed time. This gives the Swans some time to not only save more money and not hastily appoint any permanent manager. We understand that’s their preferred option if Sheehan finds it acceptable. Unless he is a man of certain principles in matters like this it is hardly likely he will just walk away. That would suit Swansea as then with fifteen months or so left on Sheehan’s contract they won’t have to pay him off. Cruel but true. We understand at this moment in time a hundred thousand pounds is what he will receive if he is shown the door. So, there’s no advantage for Sheehan to walk.

The Swans won’t hurry this, they have already had some very disappointing appointments since Andrew Coleman’s arrival in May 2023 (before those Russell Martin issues which Coleman has done his best to distance himself from) has since given us Michael Duff and Luke Williams. Both punching well above their weight before they were knocked out. Williams became a real source of contention after New Years Day this year. It depends as well what you believe on the packages Duff and now Williams received to leave the Swans. Some will tell you the club only finished off paying Duff in January, and that’s potentially a clue as to why Williams didn’t go earlier. And on him he too had an almost two and a half year contract to settle. On that we understand this wasn’t an immediate pay off, (others again will disagree) and Williams will receive payments for a long time to come. When he was offered the position at Swansea City it was via a meeting at Williams house in Gwent, and he knew he held all the cards. Then club Chairman, Coleman walked into a position he had very little experience in, and to an extent was so desperate to get Williams he had his trousers pulled down.

Unfortunately that will be the abiding memory of Coleman at Swansea City.

This is all about money and nobody should kid themselves to anything different. That’s how the Swans work, another example being low baller contracts for Ben Cabango and Harry Darling. They saved thousands by leaving it so late Darling is now believing he has a future at a far bigger club. We will concentrate on his injury timeline later. And must add there is no way on this earth he is on £19,000 a week. That’s not what the Swans do, he didn’t come to Swansea and get a contract of £80,000 a month. He is not on a million pounds a year, at MK Dons he was making in the region of £4000 a week at a big push. The Swans happily doubled that and that’s his salary. As we’ve always said, be bold at times, if you are a journalist pick up the phone and ask the question in conversation. Nurture your sources, gain their trust and confidence over time. Ask a source within your already expanding network to find out. Not hard.

Back on Sheehan, you now know as much as we do. We’ve had so many contacts from people trying to find out more, but we can only state what we believe is safe to say. We don’t want to jeopardise any club work nor present speculation that could pull the rug from underneath those who are sourcing a new head coach. And Andrew Coleman is very much driving that with Richard Montague.

⚽️ A new candidate ?
We have learned another non British (applicant this time) is now under review. It’s news to us, how long this individual has been spoken to doesn’t necessarily make him a new proposition. Just new to us. Now unless the Swans are now confident to make an announcement of a permanent manager this or next week this latest news is interesting. The way the Swans have gone about their selection process is entirely different since Montague arrived. Many have asked the question if the company ‘Football Radar’ are being utilised since his arrival. Despite our thoughts on it and many others previously we can now state that Football Radar is not being utilised officially by the Swans. Why ? Nobody really knows bar the owners of that company or an employee. But we have it on good authority that this is the official stance. Montague has a preferred method of selecting and recruiting staff. The old school come and sit in the stand and have a formal interview (we are told by a scout who operates solely in Northern Europe) isn’t his preferred way of doing things. He relies upon data of course, but he is far more open minded than that. You won’t find him at someone’s house in a desperate attempt to recruit an individual at ten o’ clock at night. His strategy is long term, giving him time to effectively investigate any person (players included) to find out more. That isn’t just it, he has a very interesting technique (not in all cases) he employed at Notts County of a patient and thoughtful build up to job offers. A series of conversations could lead up to a job offer without the candidate realising they were under the microscope all along. It’s not divisive it’s fact finding, and not forcing someone into a position they feel they have to perform in a room of directors.

Quite forward thinking. Mi5 do that by all accounts !

Before an announcement on any new head coach can be made there is still a little bit to be done we are told, and we’ve explained what the timeframe could be. The first thing the Swans will be keen to do is announce Sheehan as either at the club or not. The former we think will be the case for now. That decision though seems to be down to Sheehan who will be going back and forwards with questions and indeed his agent will be involved as well. We’ve had some very decent conversations surrounding this agency, one of the employees there, and there’s a key FIFA qualified appointment there is Alan’s agent. In this instance it’s very much a case of Alan reporting back to his agent what is being offered and seeking guidance. The fact they haven’t been in Swansea could point to the fact that Alan isn’t in the frame for the permanent job, but then of course technology can facilitate most things.

We do try and contextualise what we have and we really do appreciate your support which goes straight into supporting the Brain Tumour Charity. At times it’s very hard to state everything, unlike social media where there’s little thought given to the protection of those who talk about the club. Recent events at the Swans will give some a clue. But that’s for another day. We have what we have, and we very much enjoy sharing this information on our club with you. It might not always be groundbreaking but it’s a case of small steps linking up our journey with you. And that’s what matters most.

⚽️ Familiarise yourself with our previous report click right here —> New Swans manager journey

Photograph open source