Swans set for talks with Hellberg over manager role

Kim Hellberg signed a three-year contract with Hammarby in December 2023

Swansea City are to hold talks with Kim Hellberg, the boss of Swedish top-flight side Hammarby, as they seek a replacement for Alan Sheehan.

Hellberg, 37, has emerged as the leading contender to succeed Sheehan having been in the running to take over at the Swansea.com Stadium when the Irishman was in caretaker charge in the spring.

He is expected to meet Swansea chief executive Tom Gorringe to discuss the Swansea job within the next 24 hours.

However, there is no guarantee at this stage that the Swede will be Swansea's next head coach.

Hellberg has also been linked with the vacancies at Middlesbrough and Norwich City, while Southampton are another Championship club who are currently in the market for a new manager.

Sheehan was sacked earlier this week after Swansea's poor start to the season.

Swansea are keen to have a new management team in place before they return to action after the international break, with their next game at Bristol City on Saturday, 22 November.

Alan Sheehan lost his job this week with Swansea sitting 18th in the Championship

Hellberg has been in charge at Hammarby for the past two seasons and has led the Stockholm club to successive second-placed finishes in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's highest division.

He has a year to run on his contract, meaning Swansea would have to pay a compensation fee to secure his services. However, the size of the fee is not likely to be an issue for the Welsh club.

Hellberg was in contention for a move to Wales after the departure of Luke Williams in February, only for Sheehan to land a three-year contract on the back of a sharp upturn in form at the back-end of last season.

Hellberg, who spent his playing career in the Swedish lower leagues, began his coaching career more than a decade ago.

He made his mark as a coach in the lower divisions with Kuddby IF and then IF Sylvia before joining the staff at top-tier club IFK Norkopping in 2020.

Hellberg's first head coach role in the Allsvenskan came at IFK Varnamo, where two impressive seasons led to his move to Hammarby.