Well, good morning to you all. Having soaked up social media to the extent it became laughable we now once again have a club with no head coach / manager. As it stands and let’s be honest that can change in the next few minutes we have Darren O’Dea in the hot seat facing whatever comes next.

Although there’s nothing from the club on this.

Of course we had our report from last week, we obviously rely upon our research and anyone who follows us closely will know every good intention is made when we report matters. There is no justification for the violent threats that are posted when the slightest error is judged, especially in hindsight. Most who start this nonsense don’t even read the actual facts, and those that do mostly get it.

Remember this bit from our report on Sheehan last week ?

The caveat here for Sheehan is the fluid way the decision makers at the club can change. Richard Montague and two of his team felt that very personally in the late summer. News coming out of the club is now very much diluted since then for certain individuals, and a ‘certain’ journalist has stopped writing his exclusives. Despite reports that Sheehan still has the clubs support, and that seems as about as relevant as an MOT on your car, Ipswich on Saturday at home we think will be the deal breaker. There will be discussions if Sheehan loses miserably or the performance is well under par.

Very easily forgotten it seems.

Anyway, what about the future ? Names are being bandied about, some hilarious so thanks to them for giving us a laugh last night. The most compelling one is Kim Hellberg at Hammarby IF. It was even compelling in the summer before Sheehan was appointed, and let’s get that right, nobody really could have argued at the time when Sheehan was given the job. Some did, and are now rejoicing at the mess Swansea City are in with ‘I told you so’ posts. Revelling in the situation a club they claim to support is in another tight spot after so much good news and hope from the summer.

The finances on relieving Sheehan of his duties won’t be pennies, far from it and getting Hellberg in would have cost a fortune back then. As it stands that’s pretty much the same, but the season in Sweden is over. It’s a costly business sacking managers every nine months or so. However, he has a proud record now the Swedish season has concluded. He joined Hammarby IF on December 14th 2023, ahead of the 2024 season in January. His appointment was well received as he had a pretty decent record at IFK Värnamo before that, he is a very successful head coach overall.

⚽️ Look at his record at Hammarby IF.

• 2024 Season: 30 matches (full Allsvenskan campaign), 17 wins, 7 draws, 6 losses → 57% win rate.

• 2025 Season (up to Nov 9, 2025): 21 matches played, 13 wins, 3 draws, 5 losses → 62% win rate (Hammarby sits 2nd in the table with 42 points, having secured Europa Conference League qualification).

Now with the season over but still thirteen months remaining on his contract the compensation will still be fairly high. Well, put it this way he won’t be free. We will try and find out how much. Hammarby IF’s sporting director Mikael Hjelmberg has made it known this past week that he will absolutely do everything he can to retain Hellberg at Hammarby IF. Sebastian Luuk at ‘Sportbladet’ in Sweden is on top of the news on this despite a certain outlet in Wales making some absurd claims yesterday. This outlet failed to mention another reason for him to refuse the Swans job, like a new baby very recently. New responsibility does make a parent think, we’ve been down that road before, even this year. Luuk is a very good journalist who we have spoken to before. As people will recall we have three very good sources in that region from the summer, all of whom have come through with positive responses to our contact regards the transfer window. Check our news searches for a reminder. Luuk isn’t one of them, but he is a credible source for sure.

Speaking to ‘aftonbladet’ in Sweden the aforementioned Hjelmberg stated “Det pågår en dialog med Kim och han representant och det har gjort så ett tag” (A dialogue with Kim and his representative has been ongoing for a while). Hjelmberg added that the club is “absolutely assuming” Hellberg will manage in 2026 and expressed their desire for a renewal, calling him a “fantastically competent and good football coach.”

This is going to be one hell of a coup if the Swans get their man especially now with the Swedish club claiming Hammarby is close to a breakthrough on the extension for Hellberg. They believe that could happen before Christmas. ‘This comes amid renewed interest from Swansea City, but Hammarby remains optimistic.’ (Quote)

If the Swans are serious they have to learn from previous experiences. We already know how ruthless Brett Cravatt is along with Jason Cohen at the helm of the decision making at the club. That’s for outgoings at Swansea so now we have a new challenge, getting the right man and coaching team appointed in quick time. They have two weeks, unless they’ve done some work already it could be longer. (That’s a caveat) So the big question now has to be how will Martin Margetson, Kristian O’Leary, Richard Stearman and Darren O’Dea fare over the coming days or indeed weeks ?

If this all goes to plan will Kim Hellberg want them ?

Anders Torstensson …

Photographs : MT1SIPA0006ZZXLL