Potter delivered on two fronts
Brighton’s appointment of Graham Potter as their new manager throws up a fresh question. Who replaces him at Swansea?
Potter was able to get Swansea playing the sort of attractive football that they were once renowned for under managers such as Roberto Martnez and Brendan Rodgers. Swansea’s form in the second half of the season suggested that they could be promotion candidates next year, so whoever they bring in as manager, will need to deliver both style and substance.
The club have appointed seven different managers in as many years, with many of their choices coming from left-field. Their track record of making surprise appointments suggests that there could be value to be found amongst the contenders for the role.
Will Swansea recruit a familiar face?
The favourite for the job is Cameron Toshack, who is the manager of Swansea’s U23 side. He is the son of the former Swansea manager John Toshack and had a spell at the club as a player when he was a teenager.
Since Toshack has been in charge of the U23 team, the likes of Daniel James and Oliver McBurnie have made the transition to the first team and been huge successes. A desire to keep such players happy may see Toshack promoted, as will the fact that his work with Swansea’s youngsters has already seen him linked with other managerial roles. Toshack is the 15/8 favourite and though he lacks experience, we know Swansea are not afraid to gamble.
Another possible internal appointment is Billy Reid at 17/2, who has been working as Potter’s assistant manager. However, as Reid also worked with Potter at Ostersund, it would be no surprise if the Scot also made the move to Brighton.
Former manager Garry Monk is the joint second favourite at 6/1. His price has dropped rapidly, but he seems focused on his current job at Birmingham. Another former Swansea star who has been linked to the role is Leon Britton at 17/2. He too seems unlikely to take the position, having stated in 2017 that he wouldn’t want the job permanently, when serving as caretaker manager.
Who’s who of Welsh managers linked
There are a number of managers listed whose chief qualification for the Swansea job is the fact that they are Welsh. These include the former Wales manager Chris Coleman at 12/1 and the current one, Ryan Giggs at 14/1. Coleman is the more realistic option, but has not found success in club football since quitting the Welsh job.
Other Welshman available to back include Craig Bellamy at 40/1, the favourite’s father John Toshack at 50/1 and John Hartson at 80/1. The amount of Welsh names is a surprise when you consider that Swansea have not been afraid to look afar when recruiting managers. Roger Freestone was the last permanent Welsh manager they appointed, way back in 2002.
One Welsh manager who could have a chance is Newport’s Michael Flynn at 6/1. There are similarities between Flynn and Potter, at the time that Swansea moved for him, with both being young managers who achieved much at small clubs with tiny budgets.
Flynn saved Newport from relegation from League Two in 2017 and on Saturday will lead them out at Wembley in the play-off final with a place in League One at stake. In addition, Newport have become a giant killer in the FA Cup over the past two seasons, beating Leeds, Leicester and Middlesbrough. There is no chance of Swansea poaching Flynn before the play-off final, so any delay in an appointment could mean they are waiting to for the 38-year old.
Source: Betfair UK English Championship