Today’s return to club football couldn't come quick enough after the now settled two week saga of off the field dramatics. The Swans with a sell out away support (again) head to Bristol for a 12:30pm kick off desperately needing a result.

The clubs hierarchy will announce Vitor Matos shortly with many now stating ‘Why would the Swans go for a man in the second division of Portuguese football’ ? Thats really not for anyone to question, the simple fact is it is all polished off and done. Yes, supporters on all mediums will question most decisions the Swans make, and they do, but this isn’t anything they can influence. None of us can.

On the game this morning we have had an insight into Darren O’Dea and his position at the club, and as it stands he was obviously aware that Vítor was coming in when interviewed for what looks like his one and only game as head coach. He made that obvious last evening that his pathway - as he sees it at this moment in time didn’t include being at the helm at Swansea City. That prompts a number of questions with the confirmed arrival of Vitor Matos. Has he been told there’s no position for him at Swansea City or maybe after all that he has gone through over the last two weeks he doesn’t fancy that particular hot seat ? It could well signal a bigger coaching change at the club with more coaches to leave ?

We will soon find out.

Maritimo have reported Matos leaving for one million euros. These payments will be spread over the term of Vitor’s contract and there is also some huge milestones for Vitor to reach if the full amount is paid. As we repeatedly state, no transfer, be that players or staff at a sporting level is ever paid in full, be that Liverpool or Merthyr.

O’Dea didn’t seem that confident he would be leading the side into Tuesdays home game against Derby County (7:45pm) either. An indication if there ever was one that we could see the new manager in for that game. For those doubting recent revelations the internet is a great time stamp. Look how long Kim Hellberg is taking as of this morning, he still isn’t official at Middlesbrough. We know that Ben Cabango and Josh Tymon are out suspended and even if Cabango was available he would be fifty/fifty to play. News on that from O’Dea is he expects to see him back on Tuesday in a Swans shirt.

Players returning yesterday and Thursday from international duty have to go through some fitness checks before being deflated for to play after international duty. Thats more for insurance purposes of course, any injuries will always be pushed back to the internarional country in question. That seems to be all good and we also learned that Marko Stamenic is fit as well. Having played two full ninety minutes for his country, New Zealand, you would expect him to be raring to go for the club that pays his wages. For us he has been a big miss since the devastating news of losing his father. To see him back in the Swans midfield would be a huge boon. It’s a great midfield we have, Ethan Galbraith, Melker Widell, Malick Yalcouyé and Gonçalo Franco are a creative unit. There may be some question marks on their strength when defending but Stamenic doesn’t have those issues. Out wide we expect to see Eom, Zeidane Inoussa, Ronald and maybe Manuel Benson available. Looking at defensive options the majority of fans will want to see Kaelan Casey involved possibly alongside Cameron Burgess but Ricardo Santos is there as well fighting for inclusion. We recall the complaints when signing centre backs in the summer (from some) now it seems a great call. Samuels-Smith is a shoe in for Tymon, he has some real talent so really the strength in the squad will be on display today. Nobody can have many complaints about Vipotnik but he needs a goal now, Adam Idah has been impressive despite some who will argue. There’s many a team in the Championship with far poorer options.

Bristol City head coach, Gerhard Struber has a rallying call for his sides supporters, "Give us the biggest noise that you can on Saturday. We will, of course, start with fire. We will show, from the first second, that we are ready for a massive opponent, but we need the fans” The Robins have just one point from their last three games but both clubs enter what is a crucial part of the season. Struber had ten first team players out for their trip to Watford, slightly debatable but that was a huge hit to his squad. Two are back, Cameron Pring and Jason Knight for what locally the fans are calling their closest thing to a derby game with Cardiff City in league one and Rovers in league two.

The last time the teams met at the stadium was in February when the Swans ran out 1-0 winners with a goal from Josh Tymon.

Read our manager search updates -

⚽️ Talks continue

⚽️ Verbal agreement

Team news follows later.

Photograph : Swansea City

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