Alan Sheehan: Swansea City have 'another gear' to hit, says caretaker boss

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Media caption,

Swansea caretaker boss Alan Sheehan jokes about making a wrong choice of Leeds over Swansea as a player

Caretaker boss Alan Sheehan says Swansea City have "another gear" to move into as they start life after Michael Duff at Rotherham on Saturday.

Ex-Luton captain Sheehan, 37, will lead Swansea at the New York Stadium following Duff's sacking this week.

The Irishman says he has not had time to consider whether he would like the job on a permanent basis.

"I have been asked to take the team for Rotherham and that's the big focus," Sheehan said.

"It's been a very difficult week for the football club.

"It's never nice for people to lose their jobs, so there has definitely not been a celebration, but [there is an] understanding that we have got an opportunity to put it right on Saturday and that's where all the focus has been."

Swansea are in the process of finding Duff's permanent successor, with Tottenham's assistant boss Chris Davies a leading candidate for the job.

The Championship club are also looking at more than one overseas option, while Notts County's Luke Williams is another name on their list of potential targets.

Tottenham have rejected an approach from Swansea to speak to Davies, but that is unlikely to bring an end to their interest.

Asked about the links with Brendan Rodgers' long-time number two, Sheehan said: "I obviously know who Chris Davies is and where he has been.

"But that's not my decision. That's for the people above me."

After the trip to second-bottom Rotherham, 18th-placed Swansea go to fellow strugglers Stoke City next Tuesday before a home game with Middlesbrough on Saturday, 16 December.

As things stand, Irishman Sheehan is only sure of being in charge for the first of those games.

The former Luton and Southampton coach says he feels "comfortable" as the boss - albeit in a caretaker capacity - but stopped short of declaring himself interested in doing the job in the long term.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Kristian O'Leary (left) and Martyn Margetson (right) remain on Swansea's staff following the departure of head coach Michael Duff (centre)

"Honestly, I am so focused on this weekend, I haven't had time to think about that," he said.

"I would prefer to talk about the players, the team, the staff and this club, because that's more important than Alan Sheehan, let me tell you that.

"I think it is an incredible job for any manager. Until you live here you don't feel it. It's something different.

"Whilst I am here, I have a duty to the fans to try to get a really good performance on Saturday. That's all I am focusing on."

Sheehan acknowledged that Swansea need to try to play a more attractive brand of football than they have produced this season, with Duff's team struggling to deliver performances as well as results during his brief reign.

"One of the main reasons why I joined this club is I love how Swansea play football and how they have for many years," he said.

"As a player I liked to have the ball. I believe that with the players we have, we are better with the ball, we need to have the ball.

"The bottom line is we are 18th in the table, we understand it's a results-based business and we have work to do.

"But I do believe we have another gear to go up. It's about us getting that gear, which I have seen in training, and doing it consistently on a Saturday."

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