Despite reports from social media and another claim by Alan Nixon the new link to another man in the frame for the Swansea City job is carrying little weight at this moment in time. We have had a look into the news on this and despite the murmurings there’s little to point to current Hibernian manager, David Gray to the Swansea role.
It is without doubt that Gray has had a successful season as Hibernian manager, by their standards at least. Hibs haven’t lost since December 7th with an impressive run of form that has seen them beat Hearts twice, Celtic and take a point in a thriller against Rangers. On loan Swans striker, Mykola Kukharevych hasn’t had the best of seasons in the capital scoring just four goals - and is expected to return to his parent club at the conclusion of his current loan spell. However, Gray and his sides recent run of form has elevated his name into the spotlight.
That wasn’t the case as he won just one game from his first fourteen league and cup games this season. That a 2-0 win v St Johnstone. The pressure was soon on him at Easter Road. His second win came in November beating Motherwell 3-0 away, but that was followed by another disappointing run of poor form. No wins from the next five fixtures. However, in his favour now is this run of games since being defeated 3-0 by Celtic on December 7th. Thirteen fixtures unbeaten and a surge up the Premier League table.
They now sit third as opposed to bottom.
There are of course alarm bells when reviewing Gray’s managerial performance this season. He has been at the club in coaching and caretaker capacities since 2021 and was a Hibs player before that. This is his first real attempt at permanent football management having signed a three year contract only eight months ago. That straight away raises eyebrows as to the costs involved should there be any basis to this rumour. Paying off what will be a two year contract won’t come cheap, plus Gray will want his own staff to boot. In any event his experience within football it is not dissimilar to Alan Sheehan, a man already in situ at the Swans. The huge question on this current head coach / manager search is ‘how much’ ? How much will an appointment cost to secure, and indeed how much will it take financially to employ an individual and any staff they want ?
That’s the measure Swans Chairman, Andrew Coleman has to consider.
It’s without doubt that the cheapest appointment is Sheehan and possibly two extra coaches to work with him. That will be down to Sheehan himself. Eric Ramsay at Minnesota as we understand it isn’t in a position to come to Swansea and as you look at it today, the costs would be even higher than Gray. There are other options out there, numerous of them out of work. Some are well out of the Swans reach, a few others when you look at the figures not as impossible as it looks initially. Out of work managers like Sean Dyche may seem out of the Swans financial reach. But weigh up a swoop for that option as opposed to someone in work. That’s going to run into a million plus dependent on the name. Now, I’m not advocating Sean Dyche, but it would be a statement of intent, and really on a step down to the Championship there has to be some realistic thought given. If the Swans could actually turn his head.
How much more would a manager like that actually cost ?
The sums aren’t available but Dyche has been a lower paid manager in the Premier League, the only advice we could get was from an agent who thinks a million pounds a year plus new staff would get him. We know of course it’s more than the Swans have invested before, since relegation at least, but when does this American ownership actually step up ? Are we to again have a gamble on someone like David Gray who bar his recent run at Hibernian is way up there as a long shot. Or do we see some clever use of the profit and sustainability rules and not view a manager as a cheap option on a hit and hope ?
The last two appointments haven’t faired well.
This is surely the most important period of Andrew Coleman’s tenure at the Swans, two men down already and not that impressive overall. He has big money looking over his shoulder in new investment which most certainly determined Luke Williams future far too late in the day. The talking has been lengthy and promising, but the results haven’t been impressive on and off the pitch. This time it has to be right. David Gray is another name on a list of candidates that no doubt is far longer than anyone knows. The European market is being explored we know that, but a man with a run of thirteen games undefeated should never be in the frame for any job at Swansea City. Especially when it’s his first successful run in his managerial career.
** Keith Haynes is the sole owner of Swansea Independent, he is a published author, qualified journalist and has written for The Daily Mirror, 442, Total Football, and many other sports publications and broadsheets since 1999.