Swansea City

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Iwan Roberts has picked out Rob Edwards and Alan Tate as contenders to succeed Luke Williams at Swansea City.

Former Wales international Edwards is without a club having left Luton Town last month, while Swansea legend Tate (pictured above) is also out of work having most recently served as number two to Steve Cooper at Leicester City.

Ex-Hull City boss Liam Rosenior, who is currently in charge of French top-flight club Strasbourg, is another coach Roberts thinks Swansea should be considering following the departure of Williams earlier this week.

Edwards (pictured below) won promotion to the Premier League with Luton having previously impressed at Forest Green Rovers, while Tate has worked alongside Cooper at Swansea and Nottingham Forest as well as Leicester.

Despite going on his travels as Cooper's right-hand man, Swansea fans' favourite Tate still has his home in the city and is known to have ambitions to become a manager.

"I think Rob Edwards deserves another opportunity," former Wales striker Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"Maybe someone like Alan Tate, who has been by Steve Cooper's side for five or six years now and has seen success at Swansea, getting to the play-offs, and getting Forest back into the Premier League.

"Maybe it's time for someone like Alan Tate to make the step from assistant to number one."

Rosenior impressed at Hull only to lose his job at the end of last season after the Tigers missed out on the Championship play-offs.

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"What a job he did at Hull, finishing seventh with an attractive brand of football," Roberts added.

"Hull didn't think he could take them to the next level and look where they are now."

Alan Sheehan is in caretaker charge at Swansea for Saturday's home game against Blackburn Rovers, with the Welsh side hoping for an upturn in form having lost seven of their past nine games.

The Swans are eight points clear of the Championship relegation zone with 13 league fixtures to play this season, and former Wales forward Sam Vokes reckons their managerial vacancy will appeal to potential managers.

"I think it's an attractive option for a manager because it's a club who expect to be doing better than they are and have been there in recent years," Wycombe player Vokes said on Feast of Football.

"The last 10-15 years have been very successful for Swansea. If you can get it right, I have been there in the Premier League… that place is bouncing and is a top place to play football."

Swansea City say the process to find their next manager is under way.

After the decision to part company with Luke Williams following the defeat at Stoke City, the Swans are looking for their sixth permanent boss since relegation from the Premier League.

Graham Potter, Steve Cooper, Russell Martin, Michael Duff and Williams have all taken the helm since 2018, with Alan Sheehan now back in caretaker charge for a second spell having also held the reins after Duff's departure.

Sheehan is set to be in the dugout for Saturday's visit of Blackburn Rovers, themselves also looking for a new boss.

Few names have been widely mentioned yet, although some calling for a return of Martin appear set to be disappointed while Andy Robinson's call for Cooper to come back may also be unlikely.

Des Buckingham had been linked, but the former Oxford United manager - once considered by Wales - is not thought to be a target, even if he does have his admirers.

New director of football Richard Montague will be tasked with leading the search, but who would you pick? Who should come in to turn the Swans around and rebuild?

Have your say here, external.

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Swansea City have appointed a new chief operating officer as part of a number of changes at the top of the club.

Tom Gorringe – most recently chief executive at Bristol Rovers – has been brought in to fill the new role.

The club says the shake-up to the leadership team is "aimed at strengthening the club's financial, operational and strategic capabilities".

It comes just days after the decision to sack Luke Williams as head coach at the same time that new director of football Richard Montague started work.

Ken Gude - brought in by chairman Andy Coleman having worked in the US together previously – has now been appointed executive director and company secretary.

Previously named chief of staff, the club say Gude's role will now see him "further drive the club's strategic initiatives and football operations, while also liaising at the League level and coordinating with key stakeholders".

Coleman, who led a takeover from the previous US ownership group in November, said: "We are making changes to our leadership team to improve our performances on and off the pitch.

"There will always be a period of transition after a takeover, and we've been busy working to spot the gaps and areas that we need to improve to take this club forward."

Other appointments see long-term staff members Gerrard Cassidy promoted to financial controller, a role previously held by Gareth Davies who had served with the club during its time in the Premier League. Meanwhile Ben Greenwood has been made head of football operations and administration.

Gude, Gorringe and Montague now sit on the club's executive management team, as well as commercial chief Richard Morris and facilities head Andrew Davies.

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Leon Britton says Swansea City should look for experience as they seek a permanent successor to Luke Williams.

Head coach Williams left Swansea after 13 months in charge earlier this week on the back of a run of seven defeats in nine Championship matches.

Swansea are points clear of the bottom three after a new year collapse in form which cost Williams his job, with Alan Sheehan beginning a second stint as caretaker boss when Blackburn Rovers come to Wales on Saturday.

Club legend Britton, a former player, caretaker manager and sporting director, says it is "vitally important" Swansea get their next managerial appointment as they look to pull clear of relegation.

"With the form we are in, I think [the club should appoint] someone with a bit of experience at this level," Britton told BBC Sport Wales.

"In recent years we have had a great history at this club of giving managers a first opportunity and a lot of them have done really well.

"But I think with the form the team is in, we are looking over our shoulder a little bit and we have some really tough games coming up.

"So I think [Swansea need] a manager with some experience to try to stabilise us and make sure we stay in this league, then look to rebuild in the summer and go again."

Swansea, who have taken only four points from the past 27 on offer, have a 10-day break after Blackburn's visit before they go to Preston North End.

They also play home games against Middlesbrough and Burnley either side of a trip to Watford before the March international break.

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Britton says Swansea's new boss must "hit the ground running" to ensure there is no relegation tension for the club come the tail end of the season.

"If you carry on the current form, you will be dragged in," he added.

"As players it's really tough when you are in a relegation battle so they need to get the points on the board before they get dragged in.

"Hopefully a new manager - or Alan Sheehan as caretaker - can get a bounce and get some results to lift us up the division."

Britton says Williams may be left to rue Swansea's failure to strengthen their squad during the mid-season transfer window, when the number of departures – the most notable of which was Matt Grimes – outweighed the tally of new faces.

Swansea's only incoming transfers – aside from Melker Widell, who will arrive in the summer – were Hannes Delcroix and Lewis O'Brien, both of whom signed on loan.

"We went into January in a half-decent position. You thought maybe we could build on that, add some new players," Britton said.

"When you bring players in, it lifts the rest of the squad, it lifts the fans, it lifts the staff and brings a bit of freshness to the club.

"I think it's fair to say we probably came out of the January window disappointed."

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Swansea City have postponed a fans' forum scheduled for Tuesday, 18 February in the wake of head coach Luke Williams' departure.

Williams had been scheduled to join chairman Andy Coleman in a meeting with supporters.

Such was the interest in the forum, club bosses decided to move the gathering from a lounge inside the Swansea.com Stadium with space for 250 people to its West Stand.

The event will now be held on Monday, 3 March.

"The club is committed to holding this event," Swansea said in a statement.

"Given the timing of the managerial change, however, the club has decided to postpone the event for two weeks so we are in a better position to discuss the future direction of Swansea City."

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Former Swansea City boss Garry Monk's sixth stint as a manager is over after he left League One strugglers Cambridge United.

Monk led Swansea to their best Premier League finish – eighth – in 2014-15 after being given his first managerial job at the Welsh club following the departure of Michael Laudrup.

Monk was dismissed the following season, and has since had spells in charge of Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday.

He took charge at Cambridge in March last year and led the U's away from relegation danger.

But the 45-year-old has left the Abbey Stadium with Cambridge bottom of the third tier having won only once in 13 matches.

Monk is a club legend at Swansea, having captained the Welsh side in every division during their climb from the fourth tier to Premier League between 2005 and 2011 and helped them win the League Cup in 2013 before becoming their manager.

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Former Swansea City midfielder Andy Robinson says "change" is needed at his former club after their slump in form continued with defeat at Stoke City.

Swansea suffered a seventh loss in their past nine Championship games despite taking the lead against a Stoke side who have also been struggling for form.

The only consolation for Luke Williams' team after their latest setback is that the gap to the bottom three remains at eight points.

There have been question marks about the quality of Swansea's squad all season, with Williams' options arguably getting weaker during the mid-season transfer window after the sale of captain Matt Grimes to Coventry City.

Former fan favourite Robinson stopped short of calling for Williams to go, but says Swansea's head coach must carry the can for many of his side's current failings.

"The players have got to take responsibility yes, but I think there needs to be change," said Robinson, who was part of BBC Radio Wales' commentary team at Stoke.

"I don't know where that change is. Is it the chairman needs changing? Is it the board? The sporting director has come in [this week]. It's shambolic.

"Do I believe that Swansea need a change? They need to do something.

"You don't want to see managers losing their jobs but that's not acceptable for me, to see a team go out with a whimper – and that's not the first time I've seen it.

"The buck stops with the manager and he is not getting a tune out of these players."

Swansea were four points outside the play-off places after successive post-Christmas home wins and at that stage looked on course for a positive season.

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But a collapse in form since then has led to mounting relegation concerns, with Swansea taking just four points from the last 27 on offer.

"As a player you have to have that desire and passion as a bare minimum, but sometimes it's the man above that who can give you the spirit and energy, the belief and confidence in games," Robinson added.

"He [Williams] is not giving that to the players at the moment.

"Look at the decisions this week. You get your first win of the calendar year [at Bristol City last weekend] and make three changes to three key players and lose to Sheffield Wednesday."

Swansea, who return to action with a home game against Blackburn Rovers next Saturday, are considering moves for free agents after their latest botched transfer window.

"The signings haven't come in [during the window]," Robinson continued.

"You shut that door as a manager and players and fight tooth and nail for what you believe in.

"I don't think they are playing for Luke Williams at the moment. The concentration levels are poor and when they concede a goal, it looks like they are going to concede three or four.

"Luke Williams has been making small steps, baby steps, all season but it's all been ripped apart in seven weeks."

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Jamie Paterson is back in the Championship after signing for Coventry City on a deal until the end of the season.

Paterson, 33, left Swansea City last summer despite being offered a new contract at the Welsh club.

He then had a short spell with Charlotte FC but was a free agent after leaving the MLS club in November.

Coventry-born Paterson, a boyhood Sky Blues fan, has been training with Frank Lampard's squad and has now been given a contract.

He joins fellow Swansea old boys Matt Grimes, Jake Bidwell and Joel Latibeaudiere at the CBS Arena.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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Stoke City boss Mark Robins has faced Swansea City without recording a win more often than he has any other side in the EFL.

Thirteen times the Stoke City boss has managed against Swansea, with his teams losing six of those games and drawing on seven occasions.

It is the sort of statistic that looks primed to be wiped out, for there is no obvious explanation as to why the vastly experienced Robins – who has previously managed Rotherham, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Scunthorpe and Coventry twice – has had little joy over the years against Swansea.

Robins will hope to change the record when Swansea arrive at the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT), with the 19th-placed Potters in need of points as they take on another struggling side.

Stoke went down with a whimper at Bristol City in midweek, with Robins "embarrassed" by his team's attacking failings in a 2-0 defeat.

In all, Stoke have won one, drawn three and lost two in the Championship since Robins became the club's third permanent manager this season on 1 January.

Robins' two home league fixtures to date ended in goalless draws, while Stoke were beaten on their own patch by Cardiff City last weekend as a thrilling FA Cup tie went to penalties.

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Swansea will aim to emulate their south Wales neighbours by winning in the Potteries, with Luke Williams hoping to build on last Sunday's gutsy effort at Bristol City.

Like Stoke, the Swans are in need of a response after a midweek disappointment, with Williams' team losing in dispiriting fashion at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Their win at Bristol City last weekend means Swansea have registered as many away league victories as home successes this season.

Stoke, meanwhile, have the second-worst home record in the division having managed just four league triumphs at their ground in 2024-25, a statistic which may offer Swansea hope as they head to Staffordshire.

Having said that, the second-tier club with the poorest home return this season, Hull City, beat an abject Swansea 2-1 on Humberside just before Christmas.

After some desperate away days already in 2025, Williams must hope for no repeat of that kind of performance this weekend.

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Swansea City are to hold their long-awaited fans' forum outside to cope with unprecedented demand for the event.

Swansea took the unusual step of asking supporters to register their interest in attending the forum, which will run for two hours from 18:00 GMT on Tuesday, 18 February.

The Championship club said that move was due to "high interest" in the event, which comes amid fan frustration over the club's struggles in the Championship and on the back of another botched transfer window.

The club's original plan was to hold the forum, at which chairman Andy Coleman and head coach Luke Williams will take questions from supporters, in a stadium lounge with a capacity for 250 people.

But Swansea say that because "the level of supporter interest in the event has far exceeded" that number, fans will instead be seated in the Swansea.com Stadium's West Stand.

"The club believes strongly that everyone who wants to come should be able to have their voice heard," Swansea said.

"As a result, the only option is to hold the fans' forum pitchside."

Swansea say the change of venue means that all those who have registered an interest in attending the forum will have a seat.

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Swansea City make a swift return to action at Stoke City on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with Luke Williams urging his side to deliver a repeat of last weekend's gutsy display at Bristol City.

Swansea ended a six-game Championship winless streak with a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over the Robins at Ashton Gate.

But the high of a first victory since 29 December was quickly forgotten as Swansea were beaten 1-0 on their own patch by Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

As a result, Williams' team travel to the Potteries looking for another lift as they take on a Stoke side who are also in need of a result.

"Both sides are not having the seasons they intended but both sides will be desperate for all the points, so it's going to be a really tough game," Swansea head coach Williams said.

"We have to raise our game again and try to show the same sort of fight and energy we had at Bristol City."

Swansea, in 17th, are eight points above the relegation zone having taken only four points from the last 24 on offer, with Stoke five points worse off than their opponents this weekend in 19th place.

Not for the first time this season, the Swans looked desperately short on attacking inspiration against the Owls, which meant Michael Smith's goal – after an error from Harry Darling – condemned them to a third successive home defeat.

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Stoke, who are likely to include former Swansea academy striker Ali Al-Hamadi, have won just one home game since 2 November – though Williams says Plymouth Argyle's successes this week prove how competitive every team in the Championship can be.

Having knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup last weekend, Argyle thumped Millwall 5-1 on Wednesday to move off the bottom of the table.

"We have to get over Sheffield Wednesday and try to make a good performance at Stoke," Williams said.

"All the games are so tough. Plymouth have just won 5-1 – a team not in a great league position can beat Liverpool and then score five goals. That's what EFL football is, so competitive.

"We have to make sure we concentrate for 90 minutes and not give away a really good chance. Then we have to be more aggressive and more clinical in the opposition box."

Stoke City and Swansea will seek to get back to winning ways as they meet at the Bet365 on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

After Wednesday night's 2-0 defeat at Bristol City, the Potters remain three places and three points above the drop zone in 19th, two places but five points adrift of the Swans, who won at Ashton Gate last Sunday but went down 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday night.

• Stoke City have won just one of their past five league games against Swansea City (D3 L1), and have failed to score in their last two league games against the Swans.

• Swansea have won only once in their past 13 league trips to Stoke (D4 L8), though have earned draws in their previous two visits in August 2022 and December 2023 (both 1-1).

• Stoke have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three home league games (W1 D2); they last did so in four successive games in November 2012.

• Swansea ended a four-game losing run on the road in the league with a 1-0 win at Bristol City; they last won successive away games in February last season.

• Stoke manager Mark Robins has faced Swansea more times than any other side in the Football League without ever recording a win (13 games – D7 L6).

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Swansea City's Championship trip to Preston North End has been put back three days to Tuesday, 4 March (19:45 GMT).

Swansea had been due at Deepdale on Saturday, 1 March.

But the fixture has been rescheduled as a result of Preston's progress in the FA Cup.

Paul Heckingbottom's team will host Burnley in the fifth round of the cup on 1 March, with a 12:15 GMT kick-off.