Swansea City

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Swansea City need to strengthen in every position this summer, according to former midfielder Owain Tudur Jones.

Boss Luke Williams has already said there is "a lot of work" to do as he prepares to overhaul his squad after a 14th-placed finish in the Championship table.

With several players now set to leave – and Williams targeting “a lot” of signings – Swansea are braced for an off-season of change.

"They need to strengthen every position," Jones told the Y Coridor Ansicrwydd podcast.

"Centre back for sure as it looks like Nathan Wood will be leaving.

"Midfield - they need fresh legs there. Even if Joe Allen stays for another season and Matt Grimes stays, they still need something fresh. Someone a bit like Flynn Downes, who came in a couple of seasons ago - someone a bit more dynamic.

"And they need options up front."

Williams expects confirmation of Swansea’s retained list to “be public knowledge very soon”, and the list of players departing could be a long one.

Kyle Naughton, Joe Allen, Jamie Paterson, Prezmyslaw Placheta and Liam Walsh are out of contract this summer as things stand, as is Nathanael Ogbeta, who has been on loan at Bolton.

Carl Rushworth, Bashir Humphreys, Harrison Ashby, Charlie Patino, Charles Sagoe Jr and Jamal Lowe have come to the end of loan spells.

Williams says Swansea want to sign plenty of new players this summer, but Jones has questioned how much transfer market control the Swansea head coach has.

"There's a big rebuild needed and the problem for Luke Williams is how much influence does he have on new signings?" Jones said.

"I take it he can identify positions he wants to target, but I think it's then down to (sporting director) Paul Watson to make the final decisions on who comes in.

"Is Paul Watson the right man to lead the club? I'm not sure."

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A Swansea City side will be part of The Soccer Tournament, a football festival taking place from 5-10 June in North Carolina.

After the competition's inaugural event last year, the 2024 edition will feature two seven-a-side competitions, one involving 48 men's teams and another featuring eight women's teams.

A $1m winner-take-all prize awaits the victorious team in each competition.

Swansea will be represented at The Soccer Tournament for the first time, with club legend and ambassador Lee Trundle captaining the 'AU Vodka Swans'.

Swansea say the squad will include a mix of local talent, small-sided specialist players and a footballing influencer.

Striker Trundle played in last year's tournament for the Wrexham Red Dragons.

Wrexham exited that tournament after a 4-3 defeat to Conrad & Beasley United in the round of 16.

The Swans and Wrexham will be joined by a number of high-profile European clubs in this year's edition, including Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Villarreal.

The tournament will also featured newly created sides, with former Premier League stars Sergio Aguero and Nani both entering teams.

The Swans have been drawn in men's group C and will face Tobacco Road FC, Socceroof and FitBodega Vancouver. Their opening games is against Socceroof on Wednesday, 5 June.

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Head coach Luke Williams says that new deals for some out of contract Swansea City players will be “public knowledge very soon”.

Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton, Jamie Paterson, Prezmyslaw Placheta and Liam Walsh are out of contract following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.

When asked if announcements about new deals could be made this week, Williams replied: “Possibly, yes”.

“Things will be public knowledge very soon”.

Williams has spoken of the “hard work” needed this summer after a 14th placed finish in the Championship table.

"We draw a line under the season now and hopefully we can build steadily for pre-season and have a good season ahead of us," added Williams.

"There’s a huge amount of work and hopefully we are already ahead of schedule.

“We have to try and bring the correct people in and strengthen and then try to make sure we have the majority of the players together for a good pre-season.

“I’m not really interested in a break to be honest, I’m not bothered because I’m a working class guy and need to work”.

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Jerry Yates and Japhet Tanganga both deserved to get sent off during Millwall's final-day Championship win at Swansea City, according to Swans head coach Luke Williams.

With five minutes left and Millwall 1-0 up, Saturday's game took an unexpectedly aggressive turn when Swansea substitute Yates and Millwall centre-back Tanganga were both shown red cards after tangling off the ball.

It was unclear what sparked the incident but, seemingly reacting to something Tanganga said, Swans striker Yates grabbed hold of the Tottenham loanee and appeared to throw a punch.

“I’ve watched the action back. He [Yates] is certainly antagonised but he reacts badly," said Williams.

"It’s unfortunate because there’s going to be a hangover for that one next season [with a suspension]. It’s a big shame really.

“I don’t want to put the blame on one of those guys because they’re both involved. They both deal with it in the wrong way. Someone can antagonise you and you can choose how you react.

"Both of them deserved to get sent off. Neither of them are innocent and none of them are solely responsible."

The result means Millwall ended the season 13th in the Championship table, their fifth straight win helping them leapfrog Swansea, who dropped to 14th.

Williams confirmed Yates had apologised to his team-mates after the game.

“Yeah, he knows he shouldn’t have done that," the former Notts County boss added.

"These boys are very competitive, very athletic and if you catch them in the wrong moment, something like this can happen.

"It’s happened many times before and he won’t be the last to do a silly action. He got emotional and reacted badly.”

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Luke Williams insists “there’s a lot riding on” Swansea City's end-of-season meeting with Millwall on Saturday.

A win would see Swansea, who have taken 10 points from their last four games, match their best run of the season.

But Neil Harris’ Millwall arrive at the Swansea.com Stadium on the back of their finest sequence of results this season, having won four straight games to pull clear of relegation danger.

Williams says his side can expect a final-day examination against “a team in brilliant form" under a manager who is "an unbelievable fit for the club”.

But the Swansea boss wants his side to end an arduous campaign on a high note.

“We have to continue to make a good feeling, try to build trust and meet the minimum expectation,” Williams said.

“If we want to try to move forward, every single game is an opportunity to do that.”

Victory would mean a 13th-place Championship finish for Swansea, who cannot catch Cardiff in 12th.

Harry Darling, Kyle Naughton, Joe Allen and Przemyslaw Placheta will miss the game through injury, while a host of players could make final appearances for the Welsh club.

Jamie Paterson and Liam Walsh are out of contract this summer as things stand, while Carl Rushworth, Bashir Humphreys, Harrison Ashby, Charlie Patino, Charles Sagoe Jr and Jamal Lowe are coming to the end of loan spells.

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Harry Darling will miss Swansea City’s final game of the season after undergoing foot surgery.

The centre-back has enjoyed a positive end to the campaign, playing his part in Swansea’s improved run of form.

But Darling, 24, will be absent when Swansea host Millwall on Saturday.

“He has been in some discomfort, but he has been playing so well and wanted to keep playing,” said Swansea boss Luke Williams.

“But in the end it was getting too much and it’s good because when he had the surgery, the surgeon confirmed that this was definitely the correctly course of action.

“He can now work over the summer and be ready for day one of pre-season.”

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Luke Williams says his out-of-contract players “know where they stand” going into Swansea City’s final game of the season against Millwall.

Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton, Jamie Paterson, Liam Walsh and Przemyslaw Placheta are all due to become free agents next month.

They could therefore be bidding farewell to the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, when six loan players will definitely say goodbye before returning to their parent clubs.

Discussions have been held with Allen, Naughton, Paterson, Walsh and Placheta – although some negotiations over potential new deals are ongoing.

“We are nearly there now with a lot of things,” Swansea head coach Williams said.

“Let’s concentrate on the game against Millwall and then plenty of things are going to be released to everybody to understand.

“We have one or two who are still negotiating, but everyone knows where they stand and that’s the key thing.”

Of the loan players, Swansea look unlikely to make moves to re-sign Harrison Ashby, Charlie Patino, Charles Sagoe Jr or Bashir Humphreys given that they have struggled for game-time this season.

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But Williams is an admirer of forward Jamal Lowe, who has scored 10 goals during his year-long loan from Bournemouth, and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, a star performer since arriving on a season-long deal from Brighton.

“At the moment the guys will be returning to their clubs and potentially, somewhere down the line, we may see one or two of those guys again,” Williams said.

Williams suggested last month that a second loan move for Rushworth looked unlikely, but he now says there is still “hope” that the England Under-21 international could return.

“He has had a brilliant time here - you can never underestimate being loved by a football club,” Williams said.

“You can feel incredible, like the best player in the world, and then you go to another club and think you wished you’d stayed where you were.”

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Carl Rushworth is backing Swansea City to mount a play-off push under Luke Williams next season.

Rushworth will return to parent-club Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend after a successful season-long loan in Wales.

The 22-year-old says is it not inconceivable that he will return to Swansea next season, although a second loan has been deemed unlikely by Williams because of Rushworth’s Premier League potential.

But regardless of whether he will be involved, Rushworth is convinced Swansea will enjoy a better year in 2024-25.

The Swans have been left looking nervously towards the Championship relegation zone for much of this campaign, though a late-season upturn in form under Williams – who took charge in early January – means they are destined for a mid-table finish.

“As soon as the gaffer came in, and the more time he spent with us, the more we were improving,” said Rushworth, who was named players' player and supporters' player of the year at Swansea's end-of-season awards.

“Swansea can attack the new season. It’s going to be a very exciting season next year.”

Rushworth is set for the last appearance of his loan spell when Swansea host Millwall in their final match of the season on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Swansea are 13th in the table having taken 10 points from their last four games.

“You can see now the results are starting to go our way,” Rushworth added.

“The gaffer is top. The lads have the ability and with the gaffer in from the start next season, it will be a play-off push.”

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Wales legend Cliff Jones has paid an emotional tribute to friend and former team-mate Terry Medwin following his death at the age of 91.

Jones and Medwin came through the Swansea youth ranks together before moving to Tottenham Hotspur, where they famously won a league and cup double in 1961.

Jones and Medwin also played together for Wales at the World Cup in Sweden in 1958.

“Very sad news that my lifelong friend and Spurs, Wales team-mate Terry Medwin has passed away," Jones said on X, which was formerly Twitter.

"We shared so much success with club and country and we were brothers. Love and condolences from the Jones family x."

Tottenham announced Medwin's death on Wednesday.

Image source, Swansea City AFC

Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth was named supporters’ player of the year and players’ player of the year at Swansea City’s end-of-season awards night.

The 22-year-old has shone during a season-long loan from Premier League club Brighton, playing every minute of Swansea’s Championship campaign.

Swansea head coach Luke Williams would like to re-sign Rushworth on another loan deal next season, but thinks the England Under-21 may end up playing in the Premier League in 2024-25.

Captain Katy Hosford was named Swansea City Women’s player of the year at the dinner, held at the Swansea.com Stadium on Wednesday night.

Defender Ellie Lake was players’ player of the season, with 19-goal Hosford also picking up the top goalscorer prize.

The men’s goalscorer award was shared by Jamal Lowe and Jerry Yates, both of whom have 10 goals this season.

Josh Ginnelly took the goal of the season prize for his spectacular long-range effort against Northampton in the EFL Cup, while left-back Josh Tymon was named best newcomer.

Promising defender Filip Lissah was named under-21 player of the year, with teenage winger Aimar Govea picking up the academy gong.

Former player and director Mel Nurse, who has twice been credited with playing a major part in saving Swansea amid severe financial issues, was given a standing ovation as he received the outstanding contribution award.

The supporters’ trust lifetime achievement prize went former supporter director to Stuart MacDonald.

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Former Swansea City manager John Toshack has paid tribute to his former assistant Terry Medwin, who has died at the age of 91.

Wales international Medwin played for his hometown club Swansea before joining Bill Nicholson's double-winning Tottenham Hotspur team in 1956.

He also played and scored in the 1958 World Cup for Wales, helping them reach the quarter-finals in Sweden.

“The first ever football match I went to watch was the great Tottenham double-winning team playing at the old Ninian Park and Terry was in that side. I think I was only nine or 10 years old at the time," Toshack told BBC Radio Wales.

“I remember the World Cup in ‘58 when he was involved with the Welsh team with Ivor [Allchurch], Big John [Charles] and Mel [Charles] and Cliffy Jones.

"You look at the side that he played in, and Cliffy Jones as well, the great Tottenham double-winning side, Terry was an important cog in the wheel.

"He played centre forward quite a bit but outside right was the position we would best know him as."

Once he was appointed Swansea manager in 1978, Toshack would bring Medwin back to the club, helping the rise from the fourth to the top tier of English football.

"He came down to work with us [at Swansea], so I have fond memories of Terry," added Toshack.

"A big help for me when I first started off at Swansea. He knew the club and the area very well. The experience he’d had and what he’d done as a player, all those things.

"I don’t think Terry ever would have wanted to be a manager as such, but the knowledge he had of the game - and having that bit more experience than me - I felt it would be useful and it definitely was.

"He was delighted to be able to come back to Swansea.

"He had a good sense of humour as well, we got on well. Terry’s eldest lad was called Cameron and I named my lad Cameron after him.

"We were pretty close and starting off in management as I was so young, and low down in the league, Terry - along with Harry Griffiths - was a big help to me. A lovely man."

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Swansea City have joined others from across the football world in paying tribute to former player Terry Medwin, who has died at the age of 91

Medwin, a member of Wales' 1958 World Cup team, began his career with Swansea Town, as the club was known then, in 1952 before joining Tottenham Hotspur.

A club statement read: "Swansea City mourns the passing of Terry Medwin at the age of 91. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Terry's friends and family at this sad time. Once a Jack, always a Jack."

Medwin joined Spurs in 1956 and won the league and cup double in 1961 before reclaiming the FA Cup two years later.

The club said on the social media platform X it was "deeply saddened" by his death.

It added: "Terry was part of our double-winning side in 1961 and made 215 appearances in all competitions, scoring 72 goals. Our thoughts are with Terry’s family and friends at this impossibly sad time”.

Medwin, who won 30 international caps, was part of the Wales team that reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden and was the last Wales player to score at a major championship until Gareth Bale in 2016.

In tribute, the Football Association of Wales posted on X: “Terry scored the goal that confirmed a place in the quarter finals. The thoughts of everyone at the Football Association of Wales are with his family and friends at this sad time".

Ian Walsh, the former Wales and Swansea striker said: "Very sad news about former Welsh International Player, Terry Medwin. Lovely man, great player".

Image source, BBC Sport

We asked Swansea City fans for their views on this season and their prospects for the next campaign under Luke Williams - and there were plenty of responses.

Here's a selection of those comments. If you'd like to get in touch with yours, simply fill in this form.

Max: Swans have been a joy to watch some games (Cardiff at home) but difficult to watch at most games. I think we need proper investment from our owners, sign players instead of loaning to build a long term team, and I think it can happen with Luke Williams. He plays a great style of football, which is the Swansea way. Hopeful for next season, top 10.

Mal Gray: Swansea will forever be rebuilding when the side is made up of loan signings. The people running the club sell anything of promise and then blame the manager for inconsistency.

Ethan: Overall, I have lukewarm feelings going into 2024-25. We are majority owned by an American investment consortium which includes the likes of Oprah Winfrey. Swansea City AFC is a small print on their winnings. With all profits syphoned, we stay afloat by the skin of our teeth.

Ian: Swansea were on a great trajectory following last season, but the appointment of [Williams' predecessor Michael] Duff and then signing the players he wanted has set the club back at least another year. Williams has started to right the ship but it will be interesting to see what happens to players who don't fit his system in the summer.

James: Really exciting to see the improvements in the playing style, but most importantly in the results. Feels as though we are back to playing the Swansea way at times. Big shout-out to Ronald too, who is now my favourite player.