A Headslapping Jack?

A very interesting one indeed this. Gavin Williams, Swans fans will need no reminding was the nice Yeovil player who slapped his head, Ayatollah fashion when scoring at the Vetch back just after Christmas 2003. Strangely it didn't go down too well with the North Bank. There were also strong rumours that should Williams still have been at Yeovil he would have received a recommendation from the police that he should not play in the game on New Year's Day this year. We never got to test those rumours as Williams was on his way to West Ham before the game came around.

This evening's Evening Post states that we have made enquiries about the player but have been refused permission by West Ham who don't want to consider us taking him on loan or in a permanent deal. Which is fair enough. ''I have made an enquiry about him,'' said Swansea boss Jackett. ''West Ham said no to the idea of taking him on loan and no to taking him permanently. That's as far as it has gone.''

But what it has done is opened a very interesting debate on whether we would want him at White Rock purely because of his antics at the Vetch. And there is a definite split in the camp on that subject.

You have the 'no chance' camp who cannot forgive him for his scoring celebration which, in fairness was crowd inciting at worst and just plain stupid at best. However, there are also those who are quite happy to forgive and forget if he pulls on the white of Swansea City recognising his undoubted football talent which surely in itself would be an asset to the club.

I do have to say that despite his actions I cannot dispute Williams would add some much needed depth to our midfield and I would like to think that should it happen I could forget the incidents of the past and accept him as a Swansea City player. However, I do also believe that the pressure on the player to perform would be enormous. We all know that the Swans crowd can turn on a player reasonably quickly and one or two distinctly average performances would see sections turning on him if we pulled this one off.

I would also add that the players actions were stupid in the extreme but strikers like to wind up opposition crowds in their goal celebrations. Trundle does it, Hartson is alleged to have done it, Williams just needed to think first but at the end of it it happened and was well documented at the time. Of course doing the trade mark of your nearest Rivals is pretty dull no-one can dispute that.

But if Kenny's words are right then we have no chance but it has been an interesting debate and who knows maybe it may open again in the near future?