Leon Britton: Caretaker boss rules out being permanent Swansea manager

Swansea City caretaker manager Leon Britton has ruled himself out as a permanent successor to Paul Clement and says the club must "get back on track".

Clement was sacked on Wednesday night and Britton will take charge of the Premier League bottom side against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

"I don't think it's the right time for me to take the job on a permanent basis," Britton said.

"That is not to say I wouldn't take it in the future."

Britton was appointed Swansea assistant coach on 13 November, 2017 filling the role vacated by Claude Makelele who took over Belgian top-flight club K.A.S Eupen.

The 35-year-old midfielder now finds himself in charge of a crucial game against Palace, but reiterated it would only be until a new manager is chosen.

"I just think at this moment in time it is not the right move for me to become permanent manger of Swansea," he said.

"I have been asked to help the club out which is something I will always do.

"But in terms of the immediate future I am not looking to be the full-time manager."

Long serving midfielder Britton has been asked to take charge on a "day-by-day" basis, but has no idea how long his role might last. He will be assisted by under-23 coaches Gary Richards and Cameron Toshack.

Ex-Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is one of those linked with the vacant Swansea job

There has been speculation Louis van Gaal could be a target for the Swans, while there has been no contact with former Everton manager Ronald Koeman.

The Swans will not be pursuing Welshman Tony Pulis, the former West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City manager.

They have had six managers in the last two years, with club stalwart Alan Curtis having had a couple of spells in temporary charge amid the arrivals and departures of Garry Monk, Francesco Guidolin and Bob Bradley before Clement took the helm in January, 2017.

Britton said: "It tells its own story - six managers in that time. Before, it was unheard of at Swansea.

"Everyone used to speak of Swansea as a model football club, the way it was run, the football we played and the way we went about our business.

"It has been disappointing that is the situation, that we have had that many managers in a short space of time.

"I think we just have to try and get the club back on track."

Britton, who will not select himself against Palace because of a calf injury, says fans have to back chairman Huw Jenkins and American owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan to select the next manager.

Fans 'have their reservations'

Asked whether fans would have confidence in the club hierarchy to make the right choice, Britton said: "You understand fans have their reservations because of the amount of managers we've had in a short space of time… you have to understand there will be those feelings about that.

"But you have to put the trust (in them). We have the chairman who is still there, he has picked very good managers along the way.

"I am sure they are going to speak to a lot of people about this job. I am sure there are going to be lot of people who will want to take this job as well.

"We've got to put the confidence in the owners and the chairman that they make the right choice."

But Britton is hoping any discontent among fans will be muted and support for the team will be clear on Saturday.

• Managing Swansea was 'very challenging' - Clement

He said: "When we have needed the fans most in difficult times they have been there.

"I know before there has been some been bad feeling in the stadium, but I think on Saturday the fans will be right behind us and we will need them.

"But the players need to go out there and show the commitment they are up for the fight."

Striker Wilfried Bony will be missing from the game against Palace at the Liberty Stadium because of a hamstring injury, which could also rule him out of their Boxing Day trip to Liverpool.