Toshack Sees Similarities

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On 2nd May 1981, Swansea City sealed promotion to the First Division with a 3-1 win over Preston at Deepdale. But then manager John Toshack admits that around this stage of that season he couldn't see it coming and his mind was already beginning to focus on the following season in the same division.

And as new Swans manager Roberto Martinez started his managerial career with a 2-1 win at Rotherham last night, Toshack urged the Spaniard to not give up on the promotion dream especially when it was still possible.

Speaking to the Western Mail, Toshack said While the run of results hasn't been the greatest recently, while there are points to play for, Roberto and his team have to have a dart at it.

"I recall the year when I was manager and we went up into the old First Division with that famous win at Preston.

"Around this stage of the season, we were so far out of contention I thought we had blown our chance.

"I even started planning for the following season and threw in some youngsters, including a then unknown 18-year-old called Dudley Lewis.

"Suddenly we went on a good run of results and just nicked promotion with that win at Preston.

"The current season is not over yet for Roberto and Swansea ... not by any stretch of the imagination."

Reports from Swansea had suggested that the Welsh manager had advised The club to appoint Martinez - a suggestion that Toshack was quick to dispel "While I'm pleased for Roberto, I certainly did not recommend him for the job.

"It's nothing to do with me. Yes I know Roberto, but so do I know Dean Saunders and one or two others who were in for the post.

"It's not my business to recommend Roberto ahead of the others.

"What I will say is that Roberto and I have worked together on TV programmes about Spanish football, so we do know one another well.

"He's a bright man and I wish him every success in the new job ... as I would have done to whoever Swansea had appointed as manager.

"People are talking about me helping by offering advice, but I do that with a lot of people in football.

"I speak to Chris Coleman at Fulham, for example. But that doesn't make anything official, does it?

"If I'm having dinner with someone and we're discussing football, does that make it in an advisory capacity? Of course not.

"I used to speak to Bill Shankly on a regular basis. I respected his opinion and was keen to know his views about certain issues. But it was never anything official.

"My full-time focus is very much on Wales. We're halfway through a very difficult rebuilding job and we will plough on with bringing the youngsters through and trying to qualify for one of these World Cups or European Championships."