It is hardly a frenzy of pre match excitement, and the average football supporter doesn’t seem to be getting too wound up by this weeks international matches. So, what fills column inches in what is clearly a dead week for football. And does anyone really care ? Today its the matchday latest and Ryan Giggs.

This is a new style of feature for Swansea Independent, a more in-depth look at the other side of the footballers mind, the relationships and the intense interest in what they do, how they do it and most certainly who with. We will gauge the interest as ever, review the impact on the website and try to diversify as much as we can on the brand new Swansea Independent website. First off its Rhodri Giggs on the almost famous podcast. Then we will look at the latest developments for Wales manager Ryan Giggs.

Rhodri Giggs Podcast on his brother & Wales Manager Ryan

Giggs Family Values
Via Swansea Independent UK ( News.com.AU)
Ryan Giggs’ brother has revealed the devastating toll the philandering footballer’s affair with his wife wrought on his family. Speaking on the Almost Famous podcast Rhodri Giggs said that despite reports of a reconciliation since Ryan’s tryst with his wife Natasha, he hasn’t spoken to his brother for eight years. The 42-year-old also revealed he hasn’t spoken to his mum Lynne since the 2011 revelation. He said she had taken Ryan’s side, “because I haven’t got 35 medals, I haven’t played for Manchester United for 20 odd years and own a big house.”

Reliving the experience, Rhodri told how he only discovered the betrayal the day it was revealed by The Sun newspaper. “I found out on the day the papers put it out, her mum came to my house at six in the morning,” he said. Rhodri said he had “an inkling a couple of years before” but his mum had convinced him otherwise. “It was a night of a United party and I was supposed to be meeting her and I was ringing her and she wasn’t answering,” he said. “I thought ‘I’ll know where she’ll be’. I went to the party and she was in there.”

Both Ryan and Natasha attempted to reconcile with Rhodri, with Ryan telling him the affair didn’t mean anything and was “just sex”. But Rhodri insisted the apology “was not real, it was all fake”. “Six months down the line he said he’s going to do this, do that and then nothing has happened,” Rhodri said. “He expects me just to forget it and act like things are normal but no, I went to the papers and from that day they never spoke to me.”

Rhodri said he has been left hurt by his mother siding with Ryan, admitting: “It’s like I’ve done the affair. “I’ve got three children, one who’s five who she’s never met and one who’s 13 who she hasn’t seen for seven or eight years, what have they done? They live a mile away. “Ryan’s got a son who’s exactly the same age, these people should be mixing with each other and looking out for each other but instead, they don’t even know each other, that’s the sad thing. “I don’t speak to any of my family, none of them speak to me, they all speak to Ryan and they all live in Wales and go to Wales games and have nice food and nice hospitality. “It’s what they like, I don’t really get off on stuff like that, I never have … It’s all pretentious crap.”

The Daily Mail Reports
Ryan Giggs' girlfriend Kate Greville feared he was cheating on her with two 'glamorous' women before a blazing row saw him arrested, reports have claimed. Ms Greville, 36, moved out of the house in Cheshire with her golden retriever Mac and is now said to be in a 'safe house,' She allegedly confronted Giggs over 'flirty' messages to two women on his iPad, which was linked to his phone, before the pair engaged in a blazing row.
A source told the newspaper: 'She knows who they are. One works in London as a PR to a high-profile footballer, the other is a model based in Cheshire. They’re both younger than Giggs and very glamorous.'

Giggs in happier times with assistant Stuivenberg

Giggs, 46, was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and assault on Sunday after officers were called to reports of a 'disturbance' at his home. It was claimed Ms Greville was left with 'minor' injuries following the row, which is believed to have been witnessed by another woman. Giggs denies all allegations of assault made against him and is 'co-operating with the police,' a statement released on his behalf said. A source said: 'They had argued after coming back from a night out. The relationship has not been great for some time.' Giggs, who was bailed last week, will step down as Wales manager for their next three games.

Kate Greville alleges actual bodily harm

FAW Statement
'Our agreed immediate priority is preparing the team for the upcoming international matches. 'Robert Page, with Ryan's support, will take charge for the next three matches against the USA, Republic of Ireland and Finland supported by Albert Stuivenberg. 'The Cymru squad for these upcoming matches will be announced on Thursday 5th November. The FAW will not be making any further comment at this current time.'

Who is Kate Greville?
Kate Greville, thought to be 36 years old, is a PR executive who first came to the public's attention in 2015 as Ryan Giggs' marriage to Stacey was breaking down. It was previously confirmed that Ryan had been flirting with Kate, bought her expensive handbags and sent flowers to her office after she helped him with the launch of his Hotel Football venture. Kate was married at the time and her ex-husband Damian Burke accused Giggs of being "the third person in our marriage". Kate and Damian married in 2011 in a glitzy £40,000 ceremony in Ibiza, but Damian grew suspicious when Kate began working closely with Giggs in 2013. Damian told friends: "Kate is a fame-hungry wannabe wag. She was never going to stop until she bagged a footballer."
He says she dumped him by text in 2015. When the scandal broke that Kate could be involved with Ryan, she went to work in Abu Dhabi to escape the furor.

Rhys Carmichael Speaks
Its a never ending gift that keeps on giving, the lifestyles of the rich and the so called famous has changed dramatically over the past thirty years. Unless of course you are Paul Scholes, without looking its odds on you cant name his partner or any member of his family. Choices I suppose. It amazes me how partnerships are made with people of extreme wealth and certain others who fund themselves stumbling around in search of that wealth. Happiness isn’t bought or financed through illustrious gifts which blind real feelings in any circumstance. Ryan may well be the master of his own destiny, of course he is, but everyone makes odd life choices, sometimes we make our beds, on other occasions they work out. That’s life I suppose.

Robert Page
Press Conference

Three games in eight days for caretaker Page

So, what’s different ?

"With regards to the squad in the camp, nothing changes. We're in such a good place at the minute with regards to coming into these last two qualifers. So, if it's not broke then don't fix it. There's momentum coinmg into this camp and it's important that against the USA we keep that momentum going. That will set us up nicely then for two tough qualifiers. We know the rewards are there at the end of it. What I meant by that was that this is sill Ryan's squad, and we're just overseeing things on camp as best as we see fit."

On Matchday planning, subs etc and Ryan Giggs input

"Yes. Absolutely, Ryan is involved’ "We'll have conversations before the game and we'll try to anticipate how things are going to go. It's a great game for us, the USA, to keep the momentum going. But we've also got to have one eye on Sunday's game against the Republic of Ireland and the following game against Finland. There will be a plan in place and hopefully that goes to plan."

On Gareth Bale ?

"It's still something we're considering, he is fit to play in Swansea, because we've now got a fully fit Gareth Bale. I've had a conversation with him and he's raring to go. "He is fighting fit. Selection is yet to be decided, but we will have one eye on these qualifiers because they're very important. "I think it's the first time he's been at a club where he seems to be enjoying his football and his training even more so. "He looks fit and feels fit. It's good to have a fully fit Gareth Bale in the squad."

On Jose Mourinho, have you spoken ?

"No.

"There's a plan we have with Gareth. It's no different to any other player. "We've got a medical team around us that are second to none, in my opinion. "We have a template in place for any player coming in. If they have any individual plans themselves, then we'll adhere to that as well. From our point of view there's been no communication. But we've got a plan to get the players fit in a sensible manner. "We've got one of the best medical teams in the country. We trust in what they do and We're not going to undo any work that's going on at club level."

On Ramsey ?

"He went off injured and he had a scan the next day. It's a muscle injury. It's frustrating because he's suffered quite a bit with his injuries. Of course, he's going to be a miss, he's a fantastic player. "You want your best players around and he certainly falls into that category. We've got strength in depth and players more than capable of stepping up."

Brennan Johnson pushing for a debut?

"He's out at Lincoln and, for me, he's made the right decision to go and play competitive league football. He's scoring goals and he's going to learn from that experience. We will then reap the rewards from that. He is in contention.

Let’s finish with Joe Rodon

There have certainly been a fair few distractions for Rob Page's team heading into tomororrow's clash, but this group of players will surely be expected to block everything out and focus on the job at hand. Former Swansea City star Joe Rodon knows a thing or two about trying to block out background noise. Indeed, the centre-back admits he's happy that the rumblings over his future are behind him - and says he's loving life as the latest member of Tottenham Hotspur's growing Welsh contingent. Rodon completed a deadline day move to Spurs after a week of speculation, much to the dismay of Swans fans, and admits that the fervent speculation proved difficult to navigate. The 23-year old, a key player for his country, has since looked back on the build-up to the move, and admits he found it hard to focus on matters on the pitch. "It was the first Monday, the first deadline was when it started to develop. After Bulgaria it was basically non-stop. It was all kicking off.
"But I was delighted to get it over the line. "It was quite hard, the Bulgaria game in particular was the hardest to concentrate. "When I knew it was true and it was developing the way it was. It was quite hard to switch off. But we got the win and everything went well."

Wales take on the USA at the Liberty Stadium on Thursday November 12th with a 7.45pm kick off. LIVE on Sky Sports Mix. Radio Wales and BBC Text

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