Sheehan set for 'big conversations' over Swansea future

Alan Sheehan has claimed 18 points from 10 games across his two spells as Swansea's caretaker boss

Alan Sheehan's future looks set to be decided next week with Swansea City's caretaker boss due to discuss the way ahead with director of football Richard Montague.

Swansea are unbeaten in three games since Sheehan took the reins following the departure of Luke Williams.

Sheehan's team have claimed notable home wins over Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough as well as a battling draw at Preston North End.

Swansea will look to continue their good form at Watford on Wednesday and when high-flying Burnley visit next Saturday in the final fixture before the international break.

Sheehan will then sit down with Montague, who is leading the search for Williams' permanent successor, to decide what comes next.

While one option for Swansea could be to delay the appointment of a new management team until the end of the season, Sheehan has played down the chances of that happening because the club are working with a depleted group of staff following the exits of Williams, Ryan Harley and George Lawtey.

"We have had conversations along those lines," he said.

"I don't think that's the right thing because we've lost a good few staff - we have staff filling in.

"It's quite demanding. I like it to be demanding but in terms of continuing it on, you need to have permanent roles for permanent people with a permanent plan, [to] know where the club is going. Right now this is short-term instead of long-term."

'Big conversations' are required

Sheehan says he will "leave no stone unturned" as he bids to continue Swansea's upturn in form.

Williams departed after a run of seven defeats in nine league games which prompted concerns about relegation to League One.

But the current unbeaten streak means Swansea are 12 points clear of the bottom three in 15th heading into the final 10 fixtures of the season.

This is the second positive spell Sheehan has had while in temporary charge at Swansea, after last season's seven-game stint brought 11 points before Williams was named permanent successor to Michael Duff.

Sheehan, who has stepped up from role as assistant head coach, has said it is no foregone conclusion that he would accept the manager's role on a permanent basis should it be offered to him.

If the club opt to look elsewhere for a new boss, a decision would need to be made on Sheehan's role.

Eom Ji-Sung's goal was enough for victory over Middlesbrough as Swansea kept a third straight clean sheet

While Sheehan insists his immediate focus is on the Watford trip, the 38-year-old Irishman says "big conversations" are essential as Swansea decide on the way forward.

"What do we want in the future, what is the timescale, who's coming in, who's coming out to go on that journey?" he said.

"What players do we see being here for the future, what players that are out of contract are staying? What way do we want to play, how do we want to evolve it?

"There are all these questions but everyone needs to be on the same page. It can't be loose, one person thinking this, me wanting that, you want this, you want that."

Sheehan said he was flattered by chants from sections of the home crowd supporting him following the Middlesbrough triumph.

The former left-back has stressed that he and his family are happy living in Wales – but has also made it clear that he wants a chance to achieve in the dugout.

"There's no point being a manager and just surviving," Sheehan added.

"You want to be able to do something, you want to go and win because I love winning and I'll do certain things to win.

"There are a lot of conversations to be had and see where we want to get to."