ANGEL Rangel has revealed he is set for clear-the-air talks with Huw Jenkins after the Spaniard hit out at the Swansea City chairman.

Rangel accused Jenkins of blocking his deadline-day transfer to Premier League side Fulham and preventing him from furthering his career.

Jenkins has since insisted that no fee had been agreed with Roy Hodgson's side and all that was on offer was a loan move to Craven Cottage.

Rangel was not involved in Saturday's win over Preston and will also sit out tomorrow's trip to Crystal Palace after suffering a recurrence of an Achilles injury.

But he will meet with the Swansea supremo early next week in a bid to draw a line under the episode.

"The only thing I can say is that there has been a misunderstanding so the best thing I can do is see the chairman, have a conversation and sort things out like that," said Rangel. "We have different points of view and something's wrong so we'll see what that thing is.

"I showed my frustration, I think that was obvious, but I never said I didn't want to play for Swansea City.

"I said that if there was an offer from a Premier League club I'd like to consider it, but in this case I didn't have any chance to discuss things.

"But I have to respect the club, I have to respect the fans and everything because Swansea City have given me the chance to be here and I'm very pleased with that."

The defender, who joined the club from Spanish side Terrassa in the summer of 2007, insists he remains committed to the Swansea cause.

Criticism

"I have had criticism from so many people because no-one liked what I said, but I was only being honest," said the 27-year-old.

"But I don't think it's going to affect me because I always give 100 per cent for the club every single game.

"Fulham are obviously a massive club and I think every player would like to go and play in the Europa League, the fifth round of the FA Cup and the Premier League.

"It would have furthered my career, but that is in the past and now I have to refocus and I'm concentrating 100 per cent on getting my place back in the team."

WELL beaten by Preston, Swansea City traipsed off the pitch with shoulders slumped and minds on a relegation battle.

Five months on, Paulo Sousa's players remained on the turf long after the final whistle, savouring victory and looking ahead to many more.

This time it was Preston who were well beaten, and this time Swansea chests were puffed out.

Once more the focus is on getting out of the Championship, but now it is on sneaking into the Premier League rather than sliding into League One.

The tables have turned since that bleak defeat at Deepdale, and the table has turned too.

Only four teams were worse off than Swansea after Preston's 2-0 success in September, which left Sousa's men with just five points from their first six games of the campaign.

Today there are only four teams doing better. In 22 fixtures since the Preston beating — when Dorus de Vries, tellingly, was his team's best player — Swansea have banked an impressive 40 points.

There have been just two league defeats in that sequence, away at leaders Newcastle and at home to another of the automatic promotion contenders, Nottingham Forest.

It looks like Newcastle, West Brom and Forest will scrap it out for the top two spots in the Championship, with the rest competing for a play-off place.

And as the days start to get longer and the points become ever more precious, Swansea are in good shape.

"We are pleased to be where we are and we want to stay there," Sousa said in the wake of a triumph which cements his team's top-six spot.

"We want to keep on improving, but we have plenty of confidence in ourselves."
Belief is justified. Still Swansea lack firepower, and still there are some who question their chances of going the distance in the play-off chase.

But Swansea have come too far already for their progress to have been a fluke, and there is no doubt now that they have the quality to finish up ahead of some of the division's bigger spenders.

An extraordinary defensive record is the foundation for Swansea's success, with this weekend's shut-out making it 16 clean sheets this season for de Vries.

No second-tier side has more — Newcastle's record is the same — and with so few goals going at one end, Swansea do not need that many at the other.

Saturday saw something of an avalanche, as Swansea managed more than one goal on home soil for the first time since Cardiff City were beaten 3-2 way back in the first week of November.

It is safe to say the Liberty's nets are not going to wear out any time soon, but no-one will mind if Swansea can remain as resolute as they have been up until now.

In truth, mid-table Preston did not look too interested in examining Swansea's defences this weekend. Instead, Darren Ferguson set his team up to cancel out their hosts and return to Lancashire with a point.

The plan didn't work.

Swansea ripped into Preston almost from the outset and, impressively, never eased off.

"It was a complete performance," Sousa purred. Maybe we could have scored more goals, but we showed great organisation, great mobility, good understanding and good communication.

"There was a lot of aggression, and we had players looking to get into space and to create space.

"We want to keep going like this, because that will bring us more success.
"This was one of our best performances because we were consistent throughout the game.

"It won't be easy to repeat it because different opponents give you different challenges, but if we can stay like this we will be a stronger side than ever."

If they continue dominating games like this, the play-offs are a certainty.

Swansea bossed every aspect of a one-sided contest and might have secured a greater margin of victory.

Nathan Dyer, one of the many attacking players who had a field day, should have scored when through on the keeper but dragged wide and might also have had a penalty.

Joe Allen forced Andy Lonergan into a sprawling stop and David Cotterill smashed a long-ranger against the post.

By the time the woodwork rattled, the game was already won thanks to a pair of Cotterill set-pieces.

The first was a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area which the £600,000 man curled into the top corner for his first Swansea league goal.

The second was delivered from wide on the left for another Welsh international, Ashley Williams, to head across Lonergan and inside the far post.
"We have worked a lot on set-pieces because 35 per cent of goals come from them," Sousa said.

"When we have teams coming to the Liberty and dropping deep there are a lot of fouls, so it's important we improve our free-kicks. They can help us open games up."

With Ferrie Bodde still out, Cotterill looks like being a useful set-piece weapon in a team which is short on specialists.

"He kicks the ball well," Sousa pointed out.

He was not the only footballer kicking the ball well at the Liberty on Saturday. Swansea's rearguard had a fairly easy time of it, thanks largely to a midfield which took control of the contest.

Among them was Leon Britton, who remains a Swan for now and, according to his manager, was a player transformed against Preston thanks to the closure of the transfer window.

"Leon is happy," Sousa added. "He looked a completely different player after a great week.

"Everyone could see that after the window closed, and this is the person and the player I'm looking for.

"If he continues to play like that, it will be massive for us."

Britton, who has had yet another fine season, may be surprised to hear that his manager thinks he might have done more.

Whatever the midfielder's thoughts, Swansea are delighted that he is still around post-window and that he will be on board for a few more months at least.

The same goes for Darren Pratley and Angel Rangel, who was missing this weekend because of an ankle injury, and not because of his criticism of the chairman last week.

Rangel hit out because he wanted a chance in the Premier League.

If Swansea continue to play as they did against Preston, he might just get that opportunity in Wales.

SWANSEA City's derby clash with Cardiff on April 3 will be shown live on Sky Sports.

The Easter Saturday clash will now kick-off at 5.20pm.

Swansea's youngsters, meanwhile, are through to the last eight of the FAW Welsh Youth Cup after Casey Thomas's double helped them to a 2-1 win Cwmaman Institute.

Paulo Sousa could name an unchanged side when in-form Swansea face Crystal Palace in the Championship on Tuesday night.

The Swans outclassed Preston in a 2-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday to stretch their unbeaten run to seven Championship matches.

Sousa has no new injuries or suspensions to contend with and full-back Angel Rangel (ankle) will come back into contention if he passes a fitness test.

Cedric van der Gun is nearing a return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out since the beginning of January, but the Dutch forward is unlikely to feature at Selhurst Park.

Striker Craig Beattie will definitely not be involved due to an ankle problem, while defender Albert Serran remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Recent signing Shefki Kuqi is expected to be on the bench in what will be his first return to Selhurst Park since he left the club in the summer.

Kick-off 8pm.

DAVID Cotterill praised Paulo Sousa's managerial style after scoring the free-kick that set Swansea City on the road to victory against Preston on Saturday.
Cotterill netted his second goal for the club when he curled a set-piece into the top corner.

And he was quick to pay tribute to his boss, having sealed a permanent switch to South Wales during the January transfer window.

"Personally, the manager has been great with me and helped me get to where I want to be," said Cotterill.

"He knows the game inside out and he's been there for me. Hopefully, if I can keep working on the way he wants us to play, I can improve as a player and help the team improve.

"He doesn't shout and bawl, it's instructions about getting it right.

Nod

"We'll have to wait and see about whether I can get the nod at all the free-kicks, but it was nice when I did get the chance to see it hit the back of the net."

Swansea dominated the clash against their opponents, claiming a deserved 2-0 win that might have been more emphatic.

It cemented their place in the Championship top six ahead of tomorrow's trip to Crystal Palace, and Cotterill admitted the result had given the whole squad a boost.

"I definitely enjoyed that one," he said. "We bossed the game and passed the ball extremely well from start to finish and it gave all of us a lift.

"Nathan (Dyer) was causing havoc down the other wing and got us some good early chances, but getting an early goal was massive for us because we've seen how sides come here and try to frustrate us.

Confidence

"We got that and it gave us confidence to make sure we got the result.
"Sides come here and sit back, but Preston couldn't live with us — and they are a good side themselves so it just shows how good we were.

"But we need to keep hitting those levels and if we do we can do a lot in this league."

The win kept Swansea fifth in the Championship after 28 games.

"There's been a lot of talk about the lack of goals and it's fair because we haven't scored enough at times this season," said Cotterill.

"And even here we scored two but we could have had a few more.

"But we've taken a step in the right direction, played well and got our goals and it's up to us to keep building."

He added: "We've stayed in the top six after dropping a few points in recent weeks and now we've won there are a few points between us and sixth and seventh.

"If we can build on this confidence, we can start pushing on even further.

"We can't get ahead of ourselves so we have to only look at the next game. But we are getting there."

SWANSEA CITY’S time in the Championship has seen them labelled a lot of things for the way they play their football.

But set-piece specialists has not been one of them... not at least until this weekend.

The set-play not been an attacking strength at any stretch for the Swans since arriving back at this level, previous manager Roberto Martinez once claiming he did not want his side to rely on such a contrived way of scoring.

But, when faced with a distinct lack of goals and against teams happy to frustrate, the current man at the helm has clearly no issue in using every avenue available to ensure his side’s play-off push continues.

And it paid off on Saturday when the two goals needed to reward a dominant display came from mixing things up with the dead ball.

“When you look at the statistics, 35 per cent of goals come from set-plays these days,” said Paulo Sousa, whose side played their part in such number crunching after David Cotterill curled home a superb free-kick opener before Ashley Williams headed home from a dead-ball delivery. “So, when that is the case, it is an area for us to improve in.

“When teams come to the Liberty they drop and defend deep, they stop us progressing and are prepared to foul us and concede free-kicks.

“So we have been working very hard to be improve. It’s something we want to be stronger than ever at because it’s something that can help us to open the game more and give us the possibility to play at our level.”

So much so the squad have been subjected to drill upon drill on the training ground, with Sousa understood to have brought in a specialist coach to help his men get an edge in that area.

It has seen some bizarre ploys in recent weeks – such as all attackers staying outside the box at corners, running in en-masse to try and confuse the opposition.

And, when the confident Cotterill was up-ended by Youl Mawene following a slick Swansea start, it was time for another from the chalkboard. This time, five home players joined in the Preston defensive wall before diving out of the way as the Wales international curled past a baffled Andy Lonergan.

The second was a bit more straight forward; Williams losing his marker to meet Cotterill’s inch-perfect, dead-ball delivery following a foul out on the wing.

But if such hard work has been put in on that front, then no wonder Sousa was smiling after only the seventh game this season his men have scored more than a solitary strike.

Yet, despite the welcome goals at a time when the lack of them have come under scrutiny, Sousa’s true satisfaction will surely have come from the overall performance.

And, as much as the set-piece routines may be a bit of the new, the confident possession play was more the strutting Swansea style of old. Only seen on a couple of occasions this term, this was a display that screamed belief – especially in the final third.

That was something helped no end by the opener from Cotterill.

Although hardly giving Preston a kick in the first half-hour, there was a rumbling of concern around the stands that Swansea had been here before – on top but unable to come away with the goals when it mattered.

“Getting a goal when we did was massive for us,” admitted Cotterill, who shied away from talking about the set-piece drills being worked on in training, claiming it’s something for the Swans to keep in camp.

“We were bossing it, we were passing the ball well and Nathan Dyer was causing havoc down the other wing and got us some good early chances.

“But we’ve seen how sides come here and try and frustrate us and perhaps it can affect you and you can start thinking whether you’ll get that breakthrough.

“But we got our goal at an important time and it gave us a huge lift and confidence to make sure we got the result.

“Sides come here and sit back, but Preston tried it and couldn’t live with us. They are a good side themselves so I think they way we played from start to finish just shows how good we were and we can all get a lift from that.”

It appeared so as Swansea never once looked in danger of letting Darren Ferguson’s side into the contest, much to both their ire and admiration.

“It’s always a very difficult place to come at the best of times,” Ferguson said of his Liberty visit.

“They are a very good football team, and the way Swansea play you know at times that they are going to have a lot of possession.

“They have got the belief and the confidence to play the way they wanted to play and they do it well.

“So you’ve just got to try and frustrate them if you can.

“ I want my teams to play a certain way and the way Swansea play and pass it around is something we should maybe aspire to.”

Praise indeed from a man who knows good football when he sees it thanks to a certain family connection.

He had tried to frustrate by matching up in midfield, only to see Joe Allen add a tad more creativity than seen in recent games in between the tempo-setters of Leon Britton and Darren Pratley.

The one negative – yet again – was the fact that chances were spurned too often once more, Nathan Dyer, Pintado and Allen himself should have all added to the scoreline, even though the result was always safe with a 16th clean sheet of the season never in doubt.

But that won’t have stopped the boost in morale following a trying few weeks when things hasn’t been fully clicking for this side, something they must look to take into tomorrow’s fixture at Crystal Palace before facing the ultimate test of promotion credentials when Newcastle arrive in South Wales on Saturday.

DAVID COTTERILL has called on his Swansea City team-mates to keep maintain their standards after the confidence returned to the Liberty side on Saturday.

After a month or so without hitting top gear, Swansea blew away the cobwebs with their comfortable and convincing win over Preston.

It was a result and a performance aided by an excellent showing from Cotterill, the 22-year-old scoring a superb opener before setting up Ashley Williams for the game’s second. But, as the Wales man reflected on a job well done against Darren Ferguson’s side, he warned the intensity of the race for the play-offs means Swansea can’t fall away from the standards they set themselves.

“I think it was a good performance, but we need to keep hitting those levels,” said Cotterill, whose permanent move from Sheffield United was formalised in the recent transfer window after initially arriving in South Wales on loan.

“We’ve not been at our best recently, but we stayed in the top six which is important – and getting the win here has meant there’s a few points between us and seventh now.

“So we have to use the confidence from this result and look to push on again, starting with Tuesday and Palace.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the lack of goals and its fair because we haven’t scored enough at times this season.

“But we’ve taken a step in the right direction, played well and got our goals so it’s up to us to keep building. And if we can hit the same kind of levels we showed against Preston we can do a lot in this league.”

Swans boss Paulo Sousa insisted the win was one of the best of his tenure, hailing it as a “complete performance.”

But he will have wait to see if full-back Angel Rangel will be fit for tomorrow night’s trip to Selhurst Park, the Spaniard missing Saturday’s win with an Achilles injury.

Rangel’s absence from the side had sparked rumours of a fall-out following his outburst against chairman Huw Jenkins after a potential move to Fulham was snubbed by the club. But Rangel insisted the injury was genuine and has pledged his commitment to Sousa’s side.

SWANSEA CITY boss Paulo Sousa has lit the fuse on Tuesday’s trip to Crystal Palace by insisting the cash-starved Eagles should be relegated from the Championship.

Palace’s slide into administration has seen the club deducted 10 points and forced to sell teenage star Victor Moses to Wigan for £2.5m.

The points deduction suddenly plunged play-off chasing Palace into a relegation battle – but Sousa believes the punishment does not fit the crime.

And, with the two camps at loggerheads over Albert Serran’s contentious red card in the goalless draw at the Liberty Stadium six weeks ago, Sousa’s comments will up the ante ahead of the Selhurst Park rematch.

“In England the (financial) rules are there for everyone to see and it is important to follow these rules,” said Sousa.

“They give respect to everyone in football who is honest and trying to do his best. Losing points is unfair for the players and the manager, but it’s also unfair for the other clubs who are working very hard to deal with contracts and other things.

“In other countries – and it is my opinion also – I would like to see not to take 10 points off, but to automatically relegate because it’s unfair on the other clubs.”

Despite the unfolding crisis at Palace, the Eagles only lost the precocious Moses in the January transfer window.

And manager Neil Warnock has adopted a philosophical stance, with the Eagles buoyed by taking the Premier League scalp of Wolves to set up an FA Cup fifth round date with Aston Villa next week.

“I’m enjoying it at the moment and the administrator has told me he has no intention of asking me or any of my staff to leave,” said the 61-year-old veteran boss.

“The fans know they are in safe hands on the field and we have to keep that going while the administrator does his job.

“The 10 points is the biggest blow because deep down I quite fancied our chances in the play-offs. But don’t write us off yet, there’s a lot of points to play for, 19 games, and you never know in football.”

Swansea also have their focus on a play-off spot but Sousa reckons the race for automatic promotion is down to Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, West Brom and Cardiff City.

“I think Newcastle will finish in the top two but second place is open,” he said.

“Forest are very well-organised and very competitive and tactically they are very good too.

“They are very consistent in everything that they do and since the beginning of October it is a team with a lot of motivation.

“West Brom are also there and Cardiff have started to come once more because they have great quality in their squad. They’ve started to get consistency and they can fight for a top two spot.”

PAULO SOUSA hailed a complete performance from his Swans to take a first win in three – and insisted man-of-the-match David Cotterill can get even better.

Sousa saw his side keep their play-off plans on track with the comfy 2-0 win over Preston, inspired by record signing Cotterill, who scored one and set up Ashley Williams for the second.

But after admitting his team can still improve as they look to cement their top-six standing, Sousa added fans can also expect more from Cotterill.

The victory kept Swansea in fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Cardiff City, and Sousa said: “It was a complete performance – we played some great football.

“Our opponents tried to close all the space, but we made decisions and gave them a lot of difficulties.

“And if we keep up these performances we will be much stronger than ever.

“We kept the quality more constantly during the game.

“All the team had an outstanding game, but David is someone who is growing and growing.

“He has a lot of things to improve on, but he is someone who I expect to be an important player at a high level.

“He has things that mean he can achieve and he can be a top player.”

And Sousa admitted he was delighted chairman Huw Jenkins fought off interest in key players from other sides over the past month.

He was particularly happy that the speculation surrounding Wigan target Leon Britton was now over, insisting his performance shows a line can be drawn under the saga.

Sousa said: “Leon looks happy. Everyone saw a different Leon when the market closed.

“This is the person and the player I’m looking for here.”

A FORMER Blade handed Swansea City back their cutting edge as David Cotterill got Paulo Sousa’s men back in the old routine.

Ex-Sheffield United man Cotterill, Sousa’s main signing of the transfer window, scored one, set up another and typified a confident Swans performance as they put Preston to the sword.

And it couldn’t have come at a better time after the way Swansea have stuttered in recent weeks, the comfortable victory only their second since Christmas.

But what pleased more than the success that put Swansea level on points with fourth-placed Cardiff, was the manner in which it came as Sousa’s side strutted their way through the 90 minutes.

The belief was back after a few displays that saw Swansea fail to click in the final third, and only the post and a couple of questionable finishes stopped the hosts really hammering home their message.

Continue like this and all worries about their lack of goals can be written off as clutching at critical straws.

Of course, not all opponents will be as pedestrian and predictable as Preston – Darren Ferguson’s decision to shuffle his side and try and contain the Swans backfiring.

To say they were second best is an understatement and at last Swansea were able to make the most of that fact, as Cotterill curled home a 35th-minute opener from a free-kick before crossing to hand Ashley Williams his third of the season three minutes after the interval.

But it was the first that mattered most. After all, even with the early play being so one-sided, Liberty regulars have seen too often how it can count for little unless the goal comes when their side is on top.

And on top they certainly had been, only one wayward Preston header from a set-piece interrupting the Swansea swagger at the other end.

Even before then, Gorka Pintado had headed wide from a Darren Pratley cross and Joe Allen had tried his luck from distance as the passing and the possession was all from the men in white.

Nathan Dyer, energetic and eager to make inroads out wide, was happy to make a beeline for the byline to give such play an end product.

And it came close to providing a 23rd-minute opener when Pintado dummied the centre to confuse goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.

Just after Cotterill had curled a free-kick just wide, Dyer troubled Lonergan once more as he raced onto Pratley’s defence-splitter.

Dyer should have won a penalty as Sean St Ledger grabbed a handful of jersey to stop the ex-Saint going through on goal – but he stayed on his feet to challenge Lonergan and referee Phil Gibbs waved play on.

Lonergan was left dazed and bruised by the contact, but he was given little time to clear his head before Cotterill left him beaten with the superbly-taken first.

Cotterill had earned the opportunity for a first league goal since his switch from Sheffield United, making the most of the space from Alan Tate’s advance before a winding run towards the area tempted Youl Mawene into a costly foul just outside.

With several Swans in the wall deliberately blocking Lonergan’s eye-line, the Wales ace picked his spot and found it with a curling effort.

The relief was tangible, the breakthrough allowing confidence to surge and the Swans to stay well on top going into the interval and beyond.

Still, there was little doubt that a second would be needed before things got really comfortable and Dyer should have been able to oblige less than 60 seconds after the restart.

But, after rounding the hapless Mawene, Dyer couldn’t find the finish to match the build-up as he dragged his shot wide of the far post with only Lonergan to beat.

However, Dyer didn’t have to wait long before his blushes could be spared as Williams glanced Cotterill’s wide free-kick into the corner of the net just two minutes later.

Yet try as they might, that deserved third just wouldn’t come Swansea’s way.

Allen skewed a chance over following Fede Bessone’s storming run.

And, with 12 minutes left, only the Liberty woodwork stopped Cotterill from sealing the three points with a belter from 25 yards – the winger’s shot smashing against Lonergan’s post.

Swansea manager Paulo Sousa was delighted with the manner of his side’s 2-0 victory over Preston.

A goal in each half from David Cotterill (35) and Ashley Williams (48) gave the home side a well-deserved win in a thoroughly one-sided game.

Cotterill opened the scoring after being brought down on the edge of the area by Youl Mawene, curling in the resulting free-kick.

The game was over as a contest in the third minute of the second half when Cotterill turned provider.

His free-kick from wide on the left was met by Williams, who crashed a header into the net from 10 yards.

Sousa said: “I think it was a complete performance, but perhaps we could score a few more goals.

“There was great understanding between the players and this can only go on to give us greater success in the games to come.

“The players did everything I asked and if we can carry on like this and also improve, the confidence in our own ability will come.

“We have played many good games this season but this is one of the best because of the quality we showed and I am delighted that financial circumstances at the club have meant that we are able to keep our best players.

“The team were outstanding today and it was an impressive performance.”

There were loud shouts for a penalty on the half hour when Nathan Dyer went down in the area after a joint challenge from Sean St Ledger and Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, who required lengthy treatment to a facial injury before resuming.

Once the Swans were ahead, there was only going to be one winner as Preston failed to come to grips with the busy five-man Swansea midfield.

Dyer missed another chance straight after the restart when he raced through the visitors’ defence before shooting wide, but a minute later Williams headed in the second.

Preston boss Darren Ferguson was unhappy with the result, but felt his players worked hard.

“It is always a difficult place to come against a good footballing side and we are low on confidence at the moment after our midweek defeat,” he said.

“You have to try and shake Swansea up but they used their spare man much better than we did and we gave the ball away far too easily.

“Confidence is a big thing but we cannot feel sorry for ourselves, and perhaps in the next game we will get a lucky break or two.

“It was a disappointing day but it is a work in progress for us.

“Swansea play on the front foot and I also want my team to play football like that, but it takes time.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez in the frame for job at Espanyol

Roberto Martinez has emerged as a potential target for Espanyol.

Off to Spain? Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is a target of Espanyol

The Barcelona club’s hierarchy is losing confidence in coach Mauricio Pochettino and Wigan manager Martinez is said to figure near the top of their shortlist of potential replacements.

Britton says there's a "massive chance" of him staying at SwanseaSwansea City midfielder Leon Britton says him leaving the club is not a foregone conclusion and there's a "massive chance" of him staying beyond the end of the season.

The 27 year old's current contract expires in the summer and has been heavily pursued by Wigan during the January transfer window.

They're of course managed by former swans Boss Roberto Martinez, Britton's former room-mate during the Spaniard's playing days in South Wales. The Latics had a deadline day bid turned down.

Before Christmas Swans Boss Paulo Sousa revealed Britton had turned down a contract which would have made him the highest paid player in the club's history but Leon says his decision has got nothing to do with money.

Leon Britton talks openly and honestly about his contract situation with Real Sport's Mark Poyser

He said: "It's all about football for me. I'm 27 and this is going to be the biggest decision of my career and I just want to take some time over it.

"Every player wants to play in the Premier League and I'm no different. I would love that to be with Swansea as it means I'd have been with them from the bottom of League Two all the way to the top.

"But even with we don't get promoted that doesn't mean I'm leaving.

"When I speak to people they seem to think it's inevitable that I'm leaving the club either in January or in the summer but that's not the case. It's not a forgone conclusion.

"I could easily still be here in four or five years time and nothing would please me more. There's a massive chance of me staying."

Swans boss Sousa’s warning to Rangel to keep Premier dream alive

PAULO SOUSA has warned beleaguered star Angel Rangel the only way to keep his Premiership dream alive is to prove his worth with Swansea City.

And, adamant chairman Huw Jenkins was right to turn down Fulham’s deadline day bid for the highly-rated defender, the Swans boss warned Rangel his place in the starting XI will be at risk if he lets Monday’s transfer stand-off affect his form.

Rangel caused a stir this week when he publicly accused Jenkins of stalling his career by denying him a move to the Premiership.

The Spaniard argued that Fulham had agreed to meet Swansea’s valuation for his services only to then find Jenkins couldn’t be contacted, making it impossible to complete the deal.

The Swansea supremo then hit back, expressing his disappointment at a number of inaccuracies in Rangel’s comments.

And, as the row rumbled on, it was inevitable Sousa would be asked for his take on the matter.

While washing his hands of financial matters, the Portuguese’s response was to suggest that Rangel still has to improve as a player before he is ready for the top flight.

Sousa is confident the 27-year-old will have more opportunities to realise his Premiership ambitions but, alluding to a drop in form this season, he claimed the only way to guarantee it is to raise his game at Swansea.

“I don’t want to talk about finances because that is the chairman’s job,” he said.

“But, technically and tactically, in my opinion, Angel has to progress a lot as a player.

“He is a good player with a good understanding of the game. But he can be a lot better than he has been until now.

“Hopefully he can do that with us here. Then he can have what he wants.

“If a player is consistent in his performances and grows all the time, the chance (to move) never goes. They come more and more.

“So, if he keeps doing well and plays better than he has until now, I’m sure in the end, whether it’s next season or in two seasons, he will probably have better opportunities than this one.”

While Sousa may be challenging Rangel to prove his worth on the pitch, the obvious question is whether he is in the right place mentally to do so.

Rangel’s outburst was a clear sign that he had been unsettled by Fulham’s interest and now Swansea fans wait to see if there is any impact upon his performances.

But one thing is sure, if the right-back does have issues, his manager isn’t willing to indulge them.

Asked if he was confident Rangel’s head was in the right place ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Preston, Sousa’s response was unequivocal. Rangel better be because, if not, his chances to impress any Premiership suitors will be severely limited.

“I’m not concerned about that because, if Angel isn’t right and doesn’t train or play well, he won’t play for us,” he declared. “It is so simple like that.

“This is what happens in football. Not just here, but with all clubs.

“Players know that if they don’t play well they won’t be picked. If that happens they can’t think about the future.

“Of course the motivation is important and that’s something we want to help him with.

“He needs to be motivated because, if he is thinking about Premier League clubs, he needs to be playing well to keep them interested.

“Angel is a Swansea player and I expect the best from him. I hope we will see the best of him this season.”

Rangel may have hit the headlines this week, but he was not the only player to be linked with a big-money move away from the Liberty Stadium.

As was the case with most recent transfer windows, a number of Swansea players attracted interest.

In the end, along with Rangel, it was respective bids from Wigan and Nottingham Forest for Leon Britton and Darren Pratley that tested Jenkins’ resolve.

Wigan are understood to have offered a cash plus player loan deal for Britton while Forest tabled a £1.5m bid for Pratley.

With both offers being firmly rejected, Sousa was relieved to get through January with his squad intact.

The former Champions League winner had told Jenkins he wanted to keep hold of all of his prize assets and he got his wish. Adamant he would now postpone all talk of players’ futures until the summer, Sousa is looking forward to firmly shifting the attention back to footballing matters.

“I’m happy the window has closed because now everyone can be 100 per cent focused on playing for Swansea,” he explained. “At this moment in time Swansea is the best club they have and I’m very happy the speculation can finish.

“I’m happy because I worked very hard from the start of the season to keep most of the players in the squad. They are a fantastic group and I’m delighted we can finish the season with that group intact.

“I spoke to the chairman about my thoughts and, when he told me the club didn’t have any financial problems, I told him I wanted to keep the players.

“He did that and I’m very happy about it.”

Asked if it was difficult to turn down offers from the Premiership, he replied: “I don’t know why (people think that).

“If the club does not have financial problems, why wouldn’t we turn them down?

“I am just happy I got to keep the players I wanted and the chairman did everything he could to keep them.

“Now, if players want to think about a future in the Premiership, they need to play well here. Swansea has to be their focus.

“I don’t care about whether or not they will move on in the summer.

“They just need to play well until the end of the season and then I will take my decisions.”

FORMER Swansea City striker Mamady Sidibe has signed a new contract which will keep him at Stoke until the summer of 2012.

The 30-year-old, who joined the Potters from Gillingham on a free transfer in 2005, has recently made a successful return from a knee injury which saw him miss the second half of last season

“I am very happy here and so I didn’t have to think twice about it when I was asked about a new contract,” he said.

“The best of my football has been here and the dreams I have achieved have been with Stoke. I didn’t want to go anywhere else.

“When you have been somewhere for five years, then it is not easy to leave.”

Stoke’s Welsh manager Tony Pulis is delighted to have secured the Mali international on a longer deal.

“Everyone knows what I think of Mama. He has been a key part of this football club’s modern-day success and he is a fantastic guy to have around the place,” he said.

“He doesn’t score the amount of goals we would all like him to, but he is vitally important to how we play.

“He never gives anything less than 110 per cent, and if you ask the rest of the lads about him they all love having him in the team.

“It’s great news that he has signed a new deal and his fantastic efforts since signing for us five years ago have warranted this.”

FORMER Swansea City midfielder Darren Way has retired from playing 14 months after a serious car accident.

"It's been a long process since the day of the accident," said the 30-year-old.
"I've been through a lot — nine operations, the trauma and a lot of medication, not to mention the mental and physical aspect."

Way endured two and a half frustrating years at Swansea, when he made just 21 appearances because of a persistent shin problem.

Having joined from Yeovil in January 2006 for £150,000, he returned to his former club and will continue his career on the coaching staff at Huish Park.

Midfielder Joe Allen admits that keeping hold of Swansea's top players in January was a "major boost" for the club and their promotion push.

Speculation was rife throughout January that Leon Britton, Angel Rangel and Darren Pratley were all going to be leaving the Liberty Stadium.

But nothing materialised and with the Swans in the thick of the play-off places, Allen believes the trio's presence could have a major impact on the run-in.

"They're three of our key players and it's fantastic news for the squad and the club that they are still here," he told the club's official website.

"It was very nice to come into training and still see them here and it's only going to help us as we push on towards the end of the season."

A WAR of words has erupted after Nathan Blake hit out at comments made by Leighton James in his Evening Post column last Friday.

James had questioned the reasoning behind Blake's claim, made in his column in a Cardiff newspaper, that Jay Bothroyd would be taking a backward step were he to move from Cardiff to Swansea City.

Ex-Wales winger James pointed out that Swansea were above Cardiff in the Championship at the time of Blake's remarks.

He also highlighted Swansea's superior recent record against Cardiff and the Bluebirds' financial troubles as reasons why Bothroyd could be better off at Swansea.

James then challenged Blake to justify his comments.

Blake responded, saying: "I can't believe I've caught as big a fish as Leighton James so hook, line and sinker with what I have written. I just hope Leighton's as bold saying this to my face when we next meet.

"Needless to say, though, I stand 100 per cent behind everything I wrote about Jay. And I have no doubts 100 per cent of Cardiff City fans would be in agreement with me."

After learning of Blake's remarks, James again asked the former Cardiff striker for reasons to back up his opinion.

"When I see Nathan next, I'll walk straight up to him," said James. "He thinks it's a backward step and I think that was a strange comment to make when Cardiff were behind Swansea in the league.

"But he's just a Cardiff fan.

"He's making out it's one big joke, but let me tell you, Nathan, in Swansea no-one is laughing."

James added: "His comments implied only Cardiff could get to the Premier League, but perhaps he should look at the record between the clubs in the last two seasons. Cardiff have not beaten Swansea in four attempts, they've drawn twice and lost twice.

"And they should have lost three times because the last of those draws was the result of the most bizarre refereeing decision I've ever seen.

"Maybe Nathan should look at the facts and figures before making his derogatory comments about Swansea City."

GARRY Monk believes Swansea City's Premier League possibles can guarantee a chance to play top-flight football — by winning promotion this spring.

Monk admits he is delighted that Leon Britton, Angel Rangel and Darren Pratley all remain Swansea team-mates despite interest from elsewhere ahead of last Monday's transfer deadline.

And the Liberty skipper is confident all three players will be fully focused on the job of taking Swansea to the top division for only the second time in the club's history.

"I will be saying to all the boys that we have got three or four months ahead of us which could change all our lives for ever," Monk said.

"We all want to play at the highest level and the fact is that we have a chance to do it together with Swansea City.

"It's a big ask, I know, but we have worked hard to get where we are and we don't want to waste the position we're in.

"We will need a bit of luck along the way, there's no doubt about that, and if we do get to the Premier League, I think we'll have earned it.

"We have achieved great things already this season after what went on at the club last summer, but we're in with a great chance of doing something really special and we all want to push on."

Britton remains a Swan until at least the end of the season after Wigan failed in a last-ditch bid to take him on loan, while Pratley is still around despite a £1.5million offer for his services from Nottingham Forest.

Rangel, meantime, has pledged to keep fighting for the Swansea cause despite criticising chairman Huw Jenkins after a potential move to Fulham fell through.

"It's a massive boost for everyone at the club to have those three players still here because they are all very important to us," Monk added.

"You always want to keep your best players, and they are three of ours. I'm happy the window is closed now because people can stop talking about transfers and what might happen.

"Leon, Darren and Angel are all great professionals who I know will knuckle down and help the team as they always have done.

"It would have been a massive blow to lose them. Now they are still here we have to concentrate on what we are trying to achieve, and I'm sure those three will have no problems.

"There has been speculation about them and other players in the past and it hasn't affected performances."

Swansea's wanted men will all hope for the chance to show the speculation has not shifted their focus when Preston visit the Liberty on Saturday (1pm).

"It's a game we'll be looking to win because we want to try to win all our home games from now on in," Monk said.

"If we can get close to that and pick up a few results on the road, we will be happy."

SWANSEA CITY supremo Huw Jenkins has hit back at Spanish star Angel Rangel for claiming he stopped him furthering his career by blocking a deadline-day move to Fulham.

Jenkins, who reiterated that players would only leave the Swans when the deal was right for the club, slammed Rangel for comments he made in an interview with a local newspaper yesterday.

The Spaniard claimed Fulham had agreed to match Swansea’s valuation for his services only to find Jenkins was uncontactable throughout Monday’s transfer deadline, scuppering any hopes of a deal.

Voicing his disappointment over the player’s comments, the Swans chairman quickly made it clear Fulham had not met his demands.

The Cottagers only offered a loan deal with a view to a permanent move which, considering Rangel is just one appearance away from triggering an automatic one-year extension to his contract, was not something he was prepared to consider, let alone accept.

“I was disappointed to read so many inaccuracies in the quotes from Angel,” Jenkins said, as he tried to set the record straight.

“In response to the story, I would like to clarify certain points.

“At no time did Fulham offer any financial deal for our player apart from a loan option with the ‘possibility’ of a permanent deal at the end of it.

“I am certainly not prepared to let a regular and quality Championship player with 18 months left on his contract leave the club for virtually nothing.”

Jenkins’ statement, posted on the club’s website, is in stark contrast to Rangel’s comments. The 27-year-old, going on information received from his agent, was adamant Fulham had “made a huge effort” to secure his services.

The highly-rated right-back, who joined the Swans as an unknown from Spanish club Terrassa three years ago, even went so far as to suggest his chairman had turned off his phone to stop the deal going through. And, accusing Jenkins of stalling his career, he couldn’t hide his disappointment at having to put his Premiership ambitions on hold.

“What I know from my agent is that Fulham made an offer and it was the offer the chairman was asking for,” he said.

“But then, when everything about the deal was sorted and everything was ready, the chairman did not answer his phone or he turned it off.

“I have always given my best for Swansea City. But I have always said I would like to consider it if a Premier League club came in for me.

“That has now happened, but the chairman did not ask me what I thought.

“I am disappointed and I feel like the chairman has stopped me improving my career.

“I don’t know if I will get another chance to play in the Premier League and I don’t think you can say no if the chance comes, so I’m feeling deflated.

“I think the chairman should have answered Fulham’s calls – he should have spoken to them.”

With Rangel also being linked to the likes of Wigan, West Ham and Scottish giants Celtic in the past, Jenkins responded to his comments by making it clear the defender would not be kept against his will if Swansea received a suitable offer.

But, with Fulham falling way short, he was also adamant he would not be bullied into accepting a cut-price deal.

Highlighting the club’s prudent financial approach, Jenkins insisted there was no pressure to sell any prize assets.

“And, contrary to Rangel’s beliefs, he made it clear Fulham’s approach simply wasn’t good enough to force his hand.

“As with every footballer at this club, if they don’t want to play for Swansea City then they can leave,” explained Jenkins.

“I say that because it is important we maintain the fantastic spirit and togetherness within the squad that has taken us up to fifth in the Championship.

“But they will not leave until the deal is right for this football club.

“We’ve worked too hard and come too far as a club to give players away for nothing to Premiership or other Championship clubs.

“This club will not be the poor relations to take any offer.

“As a club we have no debt because the board runs the club in a professional manner – and we will continue to look after this football club first and foremost.”

KRISTIAN O'Leary has left Swansea City with a heavy heart and half a lifetime of memories.

And while Swansea's longest serving player admits his final days at the club have not been ideal, he prefers to focus on happier times after 18 years on the books.

"When you are talking about the good things, I think I have played in just about every one of the bigger games we've had over the last 10 or 12 years," O'Leary says.

"I played when we won Division Three at Rotherham and Bury to get promoted from League Two.

"I played when we beat Rochdale and then Hull to stay in the league.

"I played in the last game at the Vetch and in the first at the Liberty, and I've played in the play-offs, the Football League Trophy final and Premier Cup finals.

Achievements

"I've come out of it all with a few medals and a few achievements I can look back on."

O'Leary, who rates the last season at the Vetch as his finest hour, agreed a settlement on the remainder of his Swansea contract before the transfer window closed on Monday.

His deal was due to expire in the summer but now, as a free agent, he can look for another club straightaway.

"It's an option I've been thinking about for the last couple of months," he explains.

"My agent and I talked about it and I've discussed it with my family.
"It gives me the best opportunity of finding a new club where I can go on and finish my career.

"There's nothing on the table at the moment, but I can move outside the window now and hopefully something will come up soon.

Buzz

"I intend to carry on playing — I'm only 32, I'm still fit and I'm still enjoying it. I want to get back to the buzz of playing on a Saturday afternoon and I want to do it until I can't do it anymore.

"I am happy to go and play wherever an opportunity comes up."

The likes of Aldershot, Torquay and Hereford have all been mentioned as possible destinations.

O'Leary actually spent a couple of days training with Aldershot recently, but he says there have been no concrete offers as yet.

Whoever ends up signing O'Leary will get a player whose commitment and attitude have never been questioned since he first turned up at the Vetch as a teenager.

O'Leary has been a Swansea stalwart, making his first-team debut back in 1996 and going on to play for the club more than 300 times.

He has worked with 16 Swans managers, and experienced just about every emotion football can inspire since ex-youth boss Ron Walton spotted him playing in his native Port Talbot

"It's been a heck of a wrench to leave," O'Leary admits.

Questioning

"I have been questioning whether it was the right thing to do over the last couple of days and I don't really know what to do with myself if I'm honest.

"But I've said my goodbyes to a lot of people now and hopefully I can get along to a game to say the same to all the people around the ground.

"I want to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my Swansea career, and I would like to thank the fans.

"They have always been great to me. I was on the North Bank with them as a kid and I'm very, very fortunate to have represented the club for so many years."
The tail-end of O'Leary's time as a Swan has been perhaps the least enjoyable spell.

He played a part in the League One title success under Roberto Martinez but made only one appearance in 2008-9.

Martinez kept O'Leary on, citing his influence in the dressing room as a big plus, but Paulo Sousa has shown practically no interest in the player.
"It hasn't been ideal but I don't regret anything," says O'Leary.

Involved

"I believe I should have been involved in the first team a little bit more, but I don't make these decisions.

"And in fairness, when you look at the way the lads have played, it's not as if we are doing poorly.

"Just this week we've had Leon Britton being linked with the Premier League and a club bidding £1.5million for Darren Pratley. That shows how far the club has come."

These days are a far cry from the many O'Leary has seen at Swansea.
It will be strange not to have him around.

ANGEL Rangel has hit out at Huw Jenkins, accusing Swansea City's chairman of denying him the chance to further his career.

Rangel claims Fulham had settled on a fee for his services after the Premier League side agreed to meet Jenkins's asking price.

But according to the defender, the Swansea supremo suddenly became uncontactable as Monday's transfer deadline approached and that scuppered the chances of the move going through.

Rangel has insisted he will do his best to help Swansea into the Premier League this spring, but admits he is frustrated with the handling of Fulham's bid.

It has emerged that the Cottagers first expressed an interest in Rangel via his agent around a fortnight ago.

Rangel says he knew nothing about the potential deal until deadline day — but felt there was still time for a deal to be done.

It is not known how much Swansea demanded for Rangel, but it is thought likely to have been a seven-figure sum.

"I will be honest, what I know from my agent is that Fulham made an offer and it was the offer the (Swansea) chairman was asking for," Rangel said.

"But then when everything about the deal was sorted and everything was ready, the chairman did not answer his phone or he turned it off.

"I think he asked for quite a lot of money for me and Fulham made a huge effort to get me, but he didn't want to sell.

"I think he asked for quite a high fee and he didn't expect Fulham to agree it.
"To be honest I am disappointed.

"We are not talking about another Championship club or a struggling Premier League club.

"Fulham are one of the top 10 sides in the country, they are in the fifth round of the FA Cup and they are in the Europa League.

"I have always given my best for Swansea City, but I have always said I would like to consider it if a Premier League club came in for me.

"That has now happened but the chairman did not ask me what I thought.
"Swansea only paid a few thousand pounds for me so they would have got a good profit out of the deal.

"But it didn't happen and I am disappointed. I feel like the chairman has stopped me improving my career."

Rangel has been linked with Fulham, West Ham and Wigan in the past, as well as Scottish giants Celtic.

But the 27-year-old says this was different because Fulham tabled a concrete offer.

"This is not about wanting to leave Swansea — I love the club and I have always loved it," he added.

"But when I came to Swansea I had to leave my old club to further my career, and this was the same kind of thing.

"I don't know if I will get another chance to play in the Premier League and I don't think you can say no if the chance comes, so I'm feeling deflated.

"I think the chairman should have answered Fulham's calls — he should have spoken to them.

"I tried to contact myself and eventually spoke to him just before the 5pm deadline, but by then it was too late."

With his top-flight ambitions dashed for the moment, Rangel is pledging to focus on his work at Swansea.

The right-back needs to make just one more appearance to trigger a 12-month extension clause in his Liberty deal, meaning he will no longer be out of contract come the summer.

"There is disappointment, but I am here and I am going to try my best for Swansea," he said.

"It's not the end of the world. I've always said it would be great to get to the Premier League with Swansea and that's what I will try to do."

SWANSEA City are being linked with a move for highly-rated Northern Irish striker Liam Boyle.

The 18-year-old frontman has impressed playing for Cliftonville in the Irish top flight and, according to boss Eddie Patterson, is being watched by Swansea and Leicester.

"We had Gerry Taggart, who is now coaching at Leicester, at our match against Institute on Saturday watching Liam," said Patterson.

"Swansea City have watched him as well and we got good vibes back from them.
"I have no doubt that he will get a move sooner or later, and with full-time football he will develop even further."

SWANSEA CITY stalwart Kris O’Leary has described his decision to leave the club as a “huge wrench” after experiencing almost every emotion possible during 15 years of loyal service.

But, after agreeing to a mutual termination of his contract yesterday, the veteran midfielder insisted it was a case of now or never as he goes in search of regular football again.

O’Leary, who revealed he hopes to return to the Swans in a coaching capacity once he hangs up his boots, has not made a single appearance for the club since Paulo Sousa took over in the summer.

And, while he doesn’t have any firm offers on the table yet, the 33-year-old knew becoming a free agent was his only hope of finding a new club now the transfer window has shut.

That didn’t make the decision to leave Swansea any easier, though, especially not for a man who has shown levels of loyalty that are an extremely rare commodity in modern football.

But, having supported the club, joined a at the age of 14 and made over 300 senior appearances, walking away was always going to be highly emotional for the Port Talbot product.

“It’s one hell of a wrench for me to leave Swansea,” he said. “It was a very tough decision, one of the hardest I will ever make.

“It was always going to be that way. To say goodbye after such a long time, having gone through so much here, it’s only natural.

“But I’m still only 33, feeling good and desperate to play football again. I want my kids to see me play, I want to play regularly again and this decision gives me the best chance of doing that.

“With the transfer window closing, it was now or never. That’s why I decided to leave.”

Considering all he has been through at Swansea, it’s no wonder O’Leary was sad to leave. If you want a definition of an emotional rollercoaster, a look at the midfielder’s eventful career should suffice.

Whether it was clinching the League Two title at Rotherham in 2000 or securing Football League survival on the last day of the season against Hull in 2003, O’Leary has been involved in more than his fair share of drama on the pitch. And, after the dark days of the Tony Petty era in which he was threatened with the sack, there hasn’t been a shortage off it either.

After so many ups and downs, O’Leary knows his is a unique career. And, while they aren’t all good memories, as he prepared for the next chapter, there was only one emotion that really summed up how he felt when reflecting on what can only be described as the end of an era.

“I will look back at my time here with great pride,” he said. “I would be very surprised if any other footballer had been through everything I have and done it all with the same club.

“I am leaving the club that is now fifth in the Championship, one of the most admired teams outside the top flight. But, in my time here, we have faced extinction and come within one game of dropping out of the Football League all together.

“I’ve won the league twice, won the LDV Cup and played in some of the biggest games in this club’s history. But then I’ve also been told I wasn’t getting paid at Christmas and then told I was going to be sacked.

“So I’ve been through almost every emotion with the club. There’s been some not so pleasant experiences, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

And, as for the fans that have backed him ever since he made his senior debut in 1995, he added: “I just want to give them a massive thanks. I would thank each and every one of them if I could.

“I hope this isn’t the last time they see me in Swansea, though. I would love to come back as a coach and hopefully that will happen one day in the future.”

Swans chairman Huw Jenkins paid tribute to O’Leary’s loyal service, adding: “Kristian is a rare breed in today’s game. He’s always been an honest and hard-working footballer who has been through everything with this club.

“We thank him for all his efforts and loyalty over the years and wish him and his family well for the future.”

Swansea City goalkeeper David Cornell has signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract at his hometown club.

The Wales Under-21 international only signed his first professional contract last summer but will now stay at the Liberty Stadium until 2013.

"It's brilliant," said Cornell, 18, who deputises for first-choice keeper Dorus de Vries at the Championship outfit.

"I'm just happy to sign for the club I love and stay here for another three and a half years."

Cornell joined the Swans as a 13-year-old and came through the ranks at the Liberty Stadium.

He has played a regular role for the reserves and was the number one choice for Wales at under-17 level before later earning call-ups to the under-21s and the senior team.

Cornell's Swansea City debut came in this season's Carling Cup second-round defeat by Scunthorpe in which the Swans were left with seven men on the pitch after three were sent off and another injured, with all substitutes used.

But while he is playing second fiddle to de Vries, Cornell is hoping to learn a lot from the Dutchman.

"Dorus is one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship," added Cornell. "Being able to train with him really helps me out a lot.

"You pick up everything from him and even in games his level of consistency is very good - hopefully I can pick up as much as I can from him to improve my own game."

Former captain leaves Liberty Stadium

Swansea have confirmed stalwart midfielder Kristian O'Leary has left the club by mutual consent.

The 33-year-old spent nearly 15 years with the Welsh outfit - making his debut during the 1995/96 season under then manager Jan Molby. He went on to play over 300 times for the Swans.

His current deal was due to expire in the summer but the club have confirmed he has now been released to pursue other options.

Praise
"Kristian is a rare breed in today's game. There aren't many players who serve long enough to get a testimonial these days, let alone give nearly 15 years service as a professional," Swans chairman Huw Jenkins told the club's official website

"He's always been an honest and hard-working footballer who has been through everything with this club. He has always conducted him as a gentleman and true professional.

"It goes without saying that we thank him for all his efforts and loyalty over the years and wish him well for the future."

LEON Britton is targeting promotion to the Premier League with Swansea City after Wigan failed in a last-ditch bid to take the midfielder on loan.

The Evening Post understands that former Swansea boss Roberto Martinez held lengthy talks with Huw Jenkins on a day which also saw Fulham make an inquiry about Angel Rangel.

Swansea, who also fended off a bid from Nottingham Forest for Darren Pratley, did part company with Stephen Dobbie and their longest serving player, Kristian O'Leary.

The Britton situation has dominated the headlines throughout the transfer window, and it is believed Martinez tried hard to land his former team-mate until late yesterday afternoon.

Wigan wanted to take Britton on loan for the rest of the season and were prepared to pay a loan fee for the 27-year-old.

Martinez was prepared to send midfielder Ben Watson in the opposite direction, but no deal was done as Swansea held firm.

Jenkins says the players involved are all happy to be staying, and Britton and Pratley — the two who Swansea rejected bids for — told the Post they are focusing on reaching the play-offs.

"To be honest, I'm quite glad the deadline has passed," Britton said.

"I always thought I was going to be at Swansea until the end of the season at least and, as I've always said, I remain committed to the club.

"I am not disappointed I am still here. I want to try to get into the Premier League with Swansea and I'm glad I can now concentrate on the important games we've got between now and the end of the season.

"As far as my future goes, I will think about it in the summer, as I have said all along."

Pratley, meantime, stressed that he had not really contemplated the prospect of a move to Forest after Swansea turned down a bid of £1.5million plus add-ons.

"Obviously it's flattering to be linked with a big club like Nottingham Forest, but the bid got rejected and that's that," he said.

"I was informed when the bid came in but I never really thought about it because it was turned down.

"Nothing has changed for me. It's flattering that Forest were interested, but it's also flattering that Swansea wanted to keep me.

"I'm still a Swansea player and I am going to give 100 per cent to the club, as I always have done."

Admirers

Fulham's interest in Rangel came out of the blue on deadline day, although the London club have been touted as admirers of the Spaniard in the past.

And Swansea say they are delighted to have kept hold of their key players.
"There was serious interest in Leon Britton, Darren Pratley and Angel Rangel," said Jenkins.

"We resisted the temptation to do any deals because of the high value we have of the players, both individually and within our squad.

"Paulo (Sousa) feels it in our best interests to keep everyone together and to focus on this season.

"All the players involved understand our decision to retain their services until the end of the season at least.

Committed

"The players are very important to us and we know they are fully committed and loyal to Swansea City.

"Now I hope we can end all the transfer speculation surrounding our players and concentrate fully on the visit of Preston on Saturday."

Swansea were still to confirm the departure of O'Leary last night, but it is understood the 32-year-old has left now rather than hanging around until the end of the season, when his contract would have expired.

O'Leary, from Port Talbot, made his Swansea debut in 1995-96 and has made well over 300 appearances for the club.

But he played only once last season and has been frozen out completely by Sousa.

RELIEF reigns at the Liberty today after Swansea City kept hold of three key men.

Swansea suffered in the last transfer window, when a couple of their most important players said farewell to Wales and the club were left counting the cost.

But despite the efforts of their admirers elsewhere, Leon Britton Darren Pratley and Angel Rangel will report for training in Llandarcy this morning.

Questions will linger about what the future holds for the players involved, particularly in Britton's case since he is out of contract at the end of the season.

But by then circumstances at Swansea may have changed.

Mood
By then, surprisingly enough given the mood after the summer window closed, Swansea may be a Premier League club.

Paulo Sousa reckons his team will win the play-offs should they finish in the top six.

But as admirable as his confidence is, you would not stake too much on Swansea delivering promotion this season.

There are plenty of other clubs with squads good enough to finish in the Championship's top half dozen, after all. And whatever Sousa reckons, the play-offs are predictably unpredictable, whoever is involved.

What we do now know is that Swansea's chances of success are significantly better than they would have been had Britton, Pratley and Rangel had departed yesterday.

The two midfielders are the heartbeat of Sousa's team, consistent players who dictate the levels Swansea reach.

Pratley spoke last week of the importance of Britton, of how the little man would always be in his side because he makes Swansea tick.

Britton would be equally kind about his midfield colleague, for it was Pratley's return from injury in late September which helped Swansea turn the corner after a difficult start to the campaign.

Pratley is a fabulous athlete, a player who covers more miles than most and uses the ball better and better.

His contribution of five goals so far this season in a team who don't score enough — he is joint leading marksman alongside Lee Trundle — gives an idea of how influential he has become.

Britton, meanwhile, doesn't really do goals — he has not netted in the league since October 2006.

But the former West Ham youngster was not wanted by Wigan because of his prowess in the penalty box.

Cog

Britton is, as Pratley suggested, a key cog in Swansea's team.

He is good at winning the ball back, is always on hand to receive it and very rarely gives it away.

He was missed when omitted by Sousa for the goalless draw against Coventry last week, and he will be missed should he eventually move on.

But Swansea can rely on Britton to put in a shift for the next few months at least, a period of time where the club could be transformed.

Wigan's interest is unlikely to go away, for Roberto Martinez knows his former team-mate's game inside out.

If he wanted him in January, the chances are he will still want him in June.
Britton could then leave for nothing, but Swansea decided they would rather that than lose the 27-year-old now for a minimal fee.

As for Pratley, Forest's valuation did not get close to the mark which would have made Huw Jenkins and Co think about doing a deal.

If the player signed by Kenny Jackett for £100,000 keeps his form going between now and May, more interest will be close to inevitable.

Rangel, meantime, has long been linked with a move away after shooting to prominence as Swansea won League One in his first season at the Liberty.

If he can hit top form between now and the end of this campaign, the right-back could well be the subject of further attention come May.

It may be that one or more of the trio leave Swansea in the summer, just as Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez did in the last close season.

But Swansea hope they can achieve enough between now and then to ensure that nobody wants to go.

SWANSEA CITY yesterday snubbed a last-gasp Wigan bid to land midfielder Leon Britton.

The Western Mail understands Swans chairman Huw Jenkins turned down former boss Roberto Martinez’s attempt to sign Britton on a loan deal until the end of the season.

It is thought Martinez and Jenkins were locked in lengthy talks yesterday over a move for the player whose Liberty Stadium contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

But Swansea rejected the offer which was understood to have involved a loan fee plus player-swap for the 27-year-old.

It is a statement of intent by Swansea, who also put an immediate end to Nottingham Forest’s interest in Britton’s fellow midfielder Darren Pratley, who then failed to follow up their initial £1.5m enquiry.

And it was revealed that Angel Rangel – also out of contract this summer – was the subject of a late enquiry from Premier League Fulham.

But Jenkins insisted the club were ready to stand firm in order to give boss Paulo Sousa every chance of maintaining his side’s current top-six standing.

The speculation surrounding Britton saw the Londoner axed by Sousa for last week’s Championship clash with Coventry, the Liberty chief claiming the player’s focus had been affected by the on-going uncertainty over his future.

And the player himself has admitted he is glad the transfer talk is over after the window closed at 5pm last night.

“I’m happy it’s done and dusted,” said Britton. “It’s never easy for any player when situations like this happen and there’s speculation.

“But it’s over now and I’m happy to be in a position where I can just concentrate on my football and the next three months.”

Britton had previously conceded he would be interested in a top-flight switch – but yesterday insisted he was not disappointed to be seeing out the season in South Wales.

And he added he will be happy to re-open talks over a possible contract extension at the end of the campaign having put discussions on hold over Christmas.

“That is still the case – the situation hasn’t changed,” said Britton.

“There’s been interest but that doesn’t affect things – I’m not dwelling on it and I’m certainly not disappointed.

“It was always in my head that I would talk about things again at the end of the season and until then I can crack on with the job.

“We have a big few weeks with a lot of games in a short space of time and I’m really looking forward to that.

“All I am thinking about is winning back my place in the side and helping the side stay in the top six.”

Martinez left it late to move for Britton after first tying up a £2.5m deal for Crystal Palace whiz-kid Victor Moses.

But it is thought he was ready to offer cash plus a midfield replacement in return for Britton – with Wigan’s Ben Watson the most likely candidate having been previously linked with a Liberty switch.

Sousa will have also been relieved Jenkins rebuffed the interest from Forest in Pratley, although it is thought Billy Davies’ own board blocked his plans to launch an improved bid.

“There was serious interest in Leon, Darren and Angel,” said Jenkins.

“But we resisted the temptation to leave them go, taking into account the high value we place on the players as individuals and within the squad.

“Paulo feels it is in the club’s best interest to keep everyone together until the end of the season at least; focused and committed to help us achieve a position as high as we can.

“The club is very pleased the deadline has come and gone.”

Jenkins did confirm the loan departure of out-of-favour striker Stephen Dobbie to Blackpool until the end of the season while youngster Scott Evans has been released.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has signed Hearts midfielder Stephen Husband, Swansea striker Stephen Dobbie and Leicester forward DJ Campbell.

Husband, 19, has joined the Seasiders for a nominal fee and Dobbie has signed on loan until the end of the season.

Campbell, who enjoyed a spell on loan at Bloomfield Road last term, has rejoined the Seasiders on loan until the end of the campaign.

On-loan Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has extended his emergency loan at Blackpool by a further month.

However, Villa will allow the young Scot to extend his stay until the end of the campaign with a youth loan when their injury problems begin to ease.

SWANSEA City have released fringe midfielder Scott Evans.

The 21-year-old local lad, whose contract was up in the summer, has left by mutual consent.

Evans was at Swansea as a youngster but joined Manchester City.

He returned to his hometown club during the 2005-06 season but his only first-team involvement came in the FAW Premier Cup.

SWANSEA City are expecting a dull deadline day after rejecting a bid worth more than £1.5million for Darren Pratley.

Swansea say they received no offers for any of their players during January, but it is understood they did turn down a formal approach from Nottingham Forest for Pratley last week.

It is believed Forest boss Billy Davies offered £1.5 million plus significant add-ons for the midfielder.

But it would take around double that sum for Swansea to consider selling — and the Liberty Stadium club do not expect their play-off rivals to come calling again before today's 5pm deadline.

Swansea also say they have heard nothing official from Wigan Athletic over Leon Britton despite Roberto Martinez's interest in the player.

"It's been a very, very quiet transfer window and we expect it to stay that way," said Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins.

"It's been quiet everywhere — I think the financial climate has taken its toll. I have had no phone calls about anyone and I don't expect any."

While Forest's attempt to land Pratley has come as something of a surprise, Wigan's interest in Britton has been known about for some time.

And it is by no means inconceivable that former Swans boss Martinez will table an offer today.

But Jenkins said: "I don't understand why anybody thinks Leon is going to leave because we have had no bid.

"He is staying, although it's too early to start thinking about whether he might now sign a new contract.

"The situation is that we have made Leon a very good offer and a long offer, but he has decided to keep his options open. He told us that was what he wanted to do from day one.

"I just hope now that everyone at our club can knuckle down and concentrate on the fantastic opportunity we have in front of us.

"Hopefully, once the window is closed, the players will be able to settle down and focus on what lies ahead."

Martinez is understood to have held informal talks with Jenkins and Britton over a move for his ex-midfield colleague.

But when asked about Britton over the weekend, the Spaniard was giving nothing away.

"There's been many names linked to this club and you're not going to stop that," he said.

"I have been critical of this transfer window as it loses the focus of the importance of the games that we've got.

"In that respect, I'm sure that we won't stop speculation."
Jenkins, meanwhile, says Swansea are not looking to bring any new faces in before today's deadline.

"Our job now is to make sure we have got everything in place for the summer," he said. "We have got a good squad in place and we are thinking about the rest of the season, then what we can do in the next window."

Swansea are expected to announce a new date for their game at Watford after the fixture was postponed this weekend due to a frozen pitch at Vicarage Road.

The game was called off at around 11.45am after Watford's undersoil heating system failed. Details of refunds on tickets will also be announced soon.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has reiterated his desire to keep Leon Britton at the club and insists the midfielder is not set to join Wigan.

Darren Pratley has also been linked with a move away from the club, with Nottingham Forest believed to have made a formal approach, but Jenkins insists he has not had offers for any of the Swans players.

He told the South Wales Evening Post: "It's been quiet everywhere - I think the financial climate has taken its toll. I have had no phone calls about anyone and I don't expect any.

"I don't understand why anybody thinks Leon is going to leave because we have had no bid. He is staying, although it's too early to start thinking about whether he might now sign a new contract."

Jenkins is also not expecting any new faces to arrive at the Liberty Stadium until the summer transfer window at least.

He added: "Our job now is to make sure we have got everything in place for the summer. We have got a good squad in place and we are thinking about the rest of the season, then what we can do in the next window."

ROB Meppelink is not a name on the lips of many Swansea City supporters.
Google him and you won't find much thrilling information on his past either.
Yet Meppelink has a great story to tell.

Having been coach, friend and career adviser for Ferrie Bodde over the past 14 years, Meppelink has played a hugely influential role in the Dutch master's return from his injury nightmare.

And there's one tale in particular that Swansea should be extremely grateful for.

Then ADO Den Haag's youth team coach, Meppelink's eyes latched on to a 13-year-old Bodde trundling off the training pitch.

Bodde's body language didn't suggest a young lad destined for footballing success.

Needing a wake-up call in his career, Bodde was given advice that would help steer his career back in the right direction.

"I took him aside when he was 13 and had to be tough on him," said Meppelink. "He was walking around in training looking as if he wasn't too bothered.

"I shouted at him: 'Don't mess with me. This is your last training session if you continue like this. I will kick you out'.

"I told him he could be a top, top player and he looked at me totally shocked.
"So I made him run one lap of the pitch in front of his team-mates and told him that if he didn't change his attitude by the time he finished I would throw him out of the club.

"From that moment he changed and he has been a superb talent since."
Swansea know all too well about Bodde's superb talent.

Paying around £50,000 for Bodde proved one of the club's shrewdest deals, with the midfielder's excellent performances attracting bids of £4.5million from Premier League clubs.

Yet Swansea have been robbed of their star man for the past 14 months.
Two cruciate ligament injuries have cruelly limited Bodde to just three appearances in that time, but he is now in line for a surprise return ahead of schedule.

As ever, Meppelink has played a key role in the 27-year-old's comeback.
"The second time he was injured he asked me to work with him," said Meppelink. "He wanted to be in his home environment, and he trusted me to make sure he came back at the right time.

"After that I took full control of his comeback. I made sure he slept well, ate the rights things, trained properly and was generally happy.

"I made a deal with Ferrie that I would help him come back.

"He is fit now, but small things can happen with the muscle so we need to train for maybe two to three weeks before we possibly get him into the squad.

"His knee is stabilised and he needs to return on the playing level he was on before. As you know, he is an excellent player — a £6 or £7million player — who can play at the top level.

"I've worked with some top players like Eljero Elia and Romeo Castelen — both Dutch internationals — but when I saw Ferrie for the first time I knew he was a special talent.

"I see players in the Dutch team now, and I think if Ferrie had had the same opportunities as them he would be in the national side now.

"If he could win promotion with Swansea maybe that would be a possibility.
"But, of course, at the moment we are just thinking about him returning to the team."

Bodde's return will provide a huge boost for Paulo Sousa as he looks to keep Swansea's play-off bid on track.

With a lack of goals from midfield, Bodde's scoring ability would certainly strengthen Swansea's Championship charge.

And Meppelink revealed that Bodde is determined to repay Swansea on the pitch for the help given off it during his time on the sidelines.

"He's training with the team now and that has been a big positive for Ferrie and the club," he added.

"Swansea are very good for him, and he loves it here. That is very important — he has a very good feeling about this club and area.

"They gave him not only a chance, but they gave him the right feeling.

"I can't stress how important that is. Now it's his time to give something back."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was non-committal over a possible move for Swansea City midfielder Leon Britton.

The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season but Swans boss Paulo Sousa admits he "does not know" if Britton would stay beyond Monday.

Wigan are keen to strengthen before the transfer window shuts and Britton has been linked with joining his old boss.

"There's been many names linked to this club and you're not going to stop that," Martinez told BBC Sport.

"I have been critical of this transfer window as it loses the focus of the importance of the games that we've got.

"In that respect, I'm sure that we won't stop speculation."

The former Arsenal youngster is one of Swansea's longest-serving players after joining from West Ham United in 2003 - after a brief loan spell - as a teenager.

The future of fans' favourite Britton, who roomed with Wigan boss Martinez when the pair were together at Swansea, has been under intense speculation for over a month.

It was sparked after he conceded he was "surprised and disappointed" that Sousa made public details of his contract negotiations.

The Swansea boss revealed Britton, who has made more than 300 appearances for the Welsh club, would become one of the best paid players in the club's history if he signed a new deal.

"I hope he will stay, we will see what happens," said Sousa.

"Life and football have a lot of surprises and we need to expect that."

Britton has also previously admitted he has been unsettled by the turmoil of his recent split with his daughter's mother who has moved back to his native London.

Martinez has already signed one-time Swans stars Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez for Wigan and the Spaniard, who has previously stated Britton has Premier League quality, is interested in signing Britton.

HUW JENKINS has told Swansea City supporters not to expect any deadline day drama at the Liberty.

And the Swans chairman has added his name to the growing list of football bosses against the mid-season window.

Jenkins says there is no pressing need for Paulo Sousa to make any last-gasp additions to his squad as the chance to strengthen ends with tomorrow’s 5pm deadline.

But it’s been the possibility of losing star players that has caused the most headlines for Swansea this January with midfielders Leon Britton and Darren Pratley both linked with moves away.

Jenkins has dismissed fears as speculation and insisted the frenzy that accompanies this time of year is of no help to anyone.

“The window comes at a poor time,” said the Liberty chief. “Nothing gets done in the right manner and the sooner it is changed the better.

“I don’t think it benefits anyone.”

Former Swansea boss Roberto Martinez was one Premier League boss quick to hit out at the transfer window last week, claiming: “It is a key moment in the season and all this transfer speculation and the way that the agents deal with it, it really affects players’ careers.

“So that is something for the authorities to look into and see if we need that sort of unhealthy part, of people surrounding the game.

“I think it’s quite clear we should look into it and if we need to have a window I don’t think we should have any competitive fixtures in that period.”

Martinez, though, has himself been guilty of causing players unrest after it emerged he has expressed an interest in Britton.

But Jenkins insisted there was nothing to comment on any players leaving, including Pratley who was linked with a £1.5m switch to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest on Friday.

He said: “There is nothing to say on it. You’re always going to get speculation, especially the better we play and the better of players play.

“When you’re sat this level it happens and you get used to it.”

Speculation of new faces for Sousa’s squad died down once striker Shefki Kuqi arrived on an 18-month deal last week.

And Jenkins insisted the lack of deadline day desperation proves the club is being run in the right fashion, although he did concede some fringe players in Sousa’s overly large squad could make way once the loan window opens next month.

He said: “We try to run the club right way and when that happens it makes sure we don’t have to make any moves as a club at the wrong time.

“There is no reason to expect anything to happen on Monday but then when the loan window opens then there is a possibility we might be able to get a couple of players out who need to play some games.”

ALAN TATE has told Paulo Sousa to keep on tinkering, believing the Swansea City boss is being proved right by the club’s play-off position.

And the versatile defender reckons Sousa’s Swans rotation policy will help the side stay there.

Sousa has regularly shuffled his starting line-ups since taking the Liberty Stadium hot-seat.

But, while changes at the start of the season were more of a necessity after a damaging injury problem, recent decisions to drop key players have been described by the manager as his way of keeping things fresh.

Leon Britton was a notable absentee during the midweek draw with Coventry, but regular starters Ashley Williams, Angel Rangel, Nathan Dyer have all been rested over the past month.

Yet Tate, himself a victim of the tinkering against the Sky Blues, says that worries over disrupting the team’s rhythm are misplaced.

And the 27-year-old claims Swansea will benefit from making the most of their strength in depth as the race to the top six begins to gather pace.

“I think we’ve shown the squad is deep enough in quality to be able to shake things up and not affect what we’re doing,” said Tate, who is expected to return to Sousa’s side at Watford this afternoon, along with reported Wigan target Leon Britton. “I think most of the lads have been rested at one point or another and there’s no problem with that.

“I missed Tuesday, but it was a night off – the manager spoke to me before the game and said to have a rest, that it was my time, and I accepted that.

“I think a lot of people seem to believe it can affect the team’s rhythm if you change it around all the time, but you have to remember we work together every day in training so it’s not as if it’s playing alongside someone we’re not used to.

“We work with different partnerships on the training field and as long as that’s the case, when it comes to doing it on the field it should work like clockwork.

“We’ve got the squad to do it so why not? Different managers like to do it different ways and we’ve done both here. Kenny Jackett used to like to keep a settled side, Roberto Martinez liked to change things around and now Paulo is mixing it up. We’re fifth in the Championship at the moment so you pick which way is better.”

Certainly Swansea’s current standing in the table makes it difficult to argue against Sousa’s tendency to tinker. But the ploy has still brought its own share of criticism from those seemingly against changes for change’s sake.

Still, with 19 games to go in a campaign that only seems to get tougher and increasingly testing with each season, Tate says there will be no excuses for players feeling the pinch as Swansea utilise their overly large 34-man squad.

“The squad accept he’s ready to change things around,” said the former Manchester United trainee. “I know the gaffer thinks we have too many games in this country to start with, especially compared to places like Italy, where he’s played.

“So as players and as a squad we’re going to benefit if we’re given a rest when we need it because we know we’ve got players to come in and do a job.

“It’s a long season and nobody is going to be able to be at 100 per cent every week.

“Looking back to the Coventry game, I probably needed the break because I wasn’t 100 per cent and, fair play to the manager, maybe he’s seen that and taken it into account.

“I’m not going to complain at that because I think I’ve played more league games than anyone apart from Dorus de Vries.

“We’re all pushing each other and we’re all pushing ourselves to make sure we hit those standards we set ourselves. If you’re not prepared for that challenge then you shouldn’t be at the club.”

With Williams, Monk, Rangel and Tate having all been handed bench duties in recent weeks, the process of elimination suggests left-back Fede Bessone is next for a breather.

“Perhaps – but I’m not sure it works like that, we’re not on a rota, there’s no notice in the dressing room saying three games on, one game off,” the fan favourite joked. “But we’re all ready to play, and if the manager decides to give someone a rest I’ll play wherever I’m asked.

“If it’s left-back, it’s left-back it doesn’t make a difference to me and those who’ve watched me over the years would probably say the same.

“I feel comfortable across the back four, it’s not something I see as a negative because the more positions I play the more games I will play.”

With Watford likely to push a great deal more than Coventry did at the Liberty, Tate looks likely to return to add defensive stability to the Swans side that arrive at Vicarage Road today looking for a first win in three league outings.

Andrea Orlandi’s thigh problem makes Britton’s return a distinct possibility after he stayed silent over claims he wasn’t focused enough for midweek action.

And Shefki Kuqi could be in line for a first start following his bow from the bench four days ago, Craig Beattie still out with a toe problem.

“We’re looking for a good reaction after Coventry,” said manager Sousa of the trip to take on Malky Mackay’s 15th-placed Hornets, currently 10 points behind their visitors. “It’s something we expect because everything we have done until now this season gives us the confidence to put things right.

“Everybody recognised we can play much getter than we did against Coventry, but we also need to look at our opponents because we don’t play against nobody and sometimes we will face difficulties. Coventry did that by defending well, but we have to react to that and Watford is a good chance for us to show that.”

Chris Burton catches up with Swansea winger Nathan Dyer.

Losing a manager is always difficult, especially when the man heading to the exits is one of the most highly-rated young coaches in the game.

That is the situation which faced Swansea last summer, as Roberto Martinez was lured away to the Premier League by Wigan Athletic.

The Spaniard had forged quite a reputation during his time at the Liberty Stadium, taking the Swans out of League One and into the upper reaches of the Championship.

It quickly became apparent that he was destined for bigger and better things, and a switch to a top flight club was widely touted.

Swansea were obviously keen to retain Martinez's services for as long as possible, hopeful that he could fulfil his Premier League ambitions in South Wales.

In the end they reluctantly agreed to let him leave for pastures new, finding themselves in the unenviable position of having to fill a post which now carried great expectations.

Having taken a gamble on employing the untested Martinez in 2007, and reaped considerable rewards, the Swans opted to follow a similar route as they handed the reins to up and coming Portuguese tactician Paulo Sousa.

A brief spell at Queens Park Rangers had allowed him to acquaint himself with English football, while his footballing philosophies mirrored those of the outgoing Martinez.

A seamless transition was therefore expected, with Sousa ready to pick up the baton and run with it.

All did not go swimmingly at first, with Wigan snatching top scorer Jason Scotland and tempting Spanish playmaker Jordi Gomez to try his luck at the DW Stadium rather than turn a loan spell at Swansea into a permanent switch.

Belief
Results on the field at the start of the 2009/10 campaign reflected a summer of transition, with the new Sousa regime failing to make the immediate impact they had hoped for.

However, the Swans soon got their act together and have now lost just twice in their last 21 outings.

They currently sit inside the Championship play-off places and feel that they stand as good a chance as anyone of securing a top-six finish.

That is certainly the belief held by promising winger Nathan Dyer, who joined the club on a permanent basis from Southampton over the summer after impressing on loan towards the end of last term.

The 22-year-old feels the events of pre-season have been left firmly in the past and he believes the Swans are now ready to take the next step and become realistic contenders for a place in the Premier League.

"We are happy with where we are. Obviously we would like to be higher than where we are but we can't complain. We are playing well at the moment, so we are happy," Dyer told skysports.com's Chris Burton.

"Martinez put a lot of groundwork into the club during his time here and got us playing the attractive football everybody saw. Obviously the chairman had to bring in somebody who would keep that philosophy of football and he has done that, he has brought in a good manager, and we are still playing attacking football.

"There were so many changes, we lost our top goalscorer and an attacking midfielder who scored goals, our manager and half of our staff, so it was obviously going to take a while to gel back together. It's like any team, if you buy a couple of players or lose a couple of players, it's going to take time for the rest to gel together and to get going.

"But we are more than confident that we can beat any team in the Championship, so when we step out onto the pitch we have got that belief and it comes out. We battle to the end as well, we are a family and we stick together and work hard for each other.

"Some people will say they are surprised that we are up there in a matter of two seasons in the Championship, but I think if you play good football and have the right players then you can make it to the highest level.

"I'm not surprised myself, I thought we could sneak into the play-offs last season but we lost a couple towards the end. But we are looking to put that right this season and get into the play-offs."


Confidence
Dyer was actually signed by Martinez, in one of his last acts as Swans boss, and the youngster admits it was strange for him coming into the club only to then see his mentor accept a call from elsewhere.

"It was a weird one. I signed and then a couple of weeks later he left, but you never know what can happen in football," he said.

"I don't begrudge him anything, because everyone wants to reach the highest level. He felt that he could do a job at Wigan so he left, but he helped me to recapture my form and I enjoyed playing under him because he gave me the confidence to start playing the football I like to play."

While Dyer faced a tricky start to life as a fully-fledged Swansea City player, he admits that he always believed they were the club to help him fulfil his undoubted potential.

Having graduated through the academy ranks at Southampton, the flying winger endured a difficult time towards the end of his spell on the South Coast.

He feels he needed a fresh challenge to reignite his career and was delighted when the Swans offered him the opportunity he craved.

"I signed a new contract at Southampton and then it didn't go too well and I got loaned out to Sheffield United. I didn't really play enough games there, so I was grateful that I got the chance to go to Swansea and show what I can do," said Dyer.

"This is the most games I have played in a season since I started my career, so hopefully I can continue with that. I am enjoying my football so, on a personal note, I am just going to get my head down, keep playing and prove myself. I haven't really had many games, other than those I had at Southampton, so it's nice."

Dyer had already demonstrated what he was capable of during an eye-catching six-month loan spell at the Liberty Stadium, but he helped to endear himself to the Swans supporters still further when he notched against bitter rivals Cardiff City in November.

His goal helped Swansea to a memorable 3-2 win and the diminutive midfielder admits he now feels capable of producing his best on a regular basis after being given freedom to express himself.


Pressure
"I came here on loan and everyone made me feel at home - the fans and the team," he said.

"The manager just said to me 'go out and enjoy your football', whereas when I was younger it was all a bit nerve-wracking because you didn't want to make mistakes and have the manager breathing down you neck.

"But Martinez just said to me do your thing and it has been the same with the new manager. The gaffer just wants us to go out and enjoy our football and play to our strengths.

"I don't feel that I'm under pressure as much and now that I'm a bit older I can handle it better. I just want to continue playing how I want to play."

He added: "I would love to play in the Premier League for Swansea and test myself against the big guns. But I am still learning.

"I am only 22, but to me that seems old because you have got 17 and 18 year olds playing in the Prem. I have just got to keep working hard on and off the pitch and make sure I do things right. Hopefully then I will get a chance in the Premier League."

Dyer believes he is capable of taking that step with Swansea, with the club already having all the basic essentials in place to be a competitive top flight outfit.

"We have got the support, the fans are brilliant, and we have got the stadium so we feel we can match the Premier League teams," he said.

"We played Fulham over two games [in last season's FA Cup] and more than gave them a run for their money and we have also beaten Portsmouth [in the same competition], so I have no doubt that we have the quality to play in the Premier League.

"We can play football and that's the main thing. It's hard to go to the Premier League and not know how to play football, as the other teams will just pick us apart. But we can do that and I feel that if we get to the Premier League we can hold our own."

FERRIE BODDE made his return to Swansea City training yesterday as he eyes an end to his injury nightmare within the next two months.

But the Swans’ Dutch master has admitted he was to blame for his comeback ending in agony earlier this season.

Bodde had been out for 10 months after suffering knee ligament damage when he returned to action for Paulo Sousa’s side in September.

But the 27-year-old broke down just eight minutes into his first start since the injury after damage to the same knee.

At the time it prompted questions of whether the club had rushed back their prized asset following a difficult start to the season.

But Bodde has conceded he was at fault, accepting he was kidding himself he was ready to return – and is adamant he won’t make the same mistake twice.

“When I came back to training last time I had a lift from it,” said Bodde, reflecting on his initial injury recovery following surgery to repair a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee. “But, looking back, perhaps it was my mind that had the lift – not my knee. I thought I could do everything but then the injury happened.

“Now I know the problem was I wasn’t fit enough, so maybe it was a little bit too early to come back.

“I only realised this after it happened. I had never had an injury like that before and people were telling me how strong I needed to be; I thought I was because I could shoot, I could challenge, I could slide tackle, I thought I was ready.

“Now, if I’m honest I wasn’t. I only knew that afterwards and I blamed myself.

“This is different, I’ve made better decisions. Now I know I am strong. I am running longer and quicker, my muscles are stronger and fitness is better.

“I wouldn’t risk coming back early, I won’t rush it.

“All we have talked about is not about coming back as quickly as possible, but coming back as fit as possible,”

That is to be regularly assessed over the next few weeks as Bodde steps up his rehab work, joining in with the rest of the Swansea squad having completed the initial stage of his recovery in his native Holland.

The midfielder is refusing to give a date for a possible return to the playing field, but it is understood there is optimism around the club that he could be back in contention by as early as by the end of February.

Supporters, who had seen the club hierarchy turn down big-money bids from Premier League sides Bolton and Wigan for Bodde in the summer, had feared the gifted playmaker would miss the rest of the campaign when news of the injury recurring first emerged.

But his return has been aided by the fact he avoided a second operation – as well as the one-on-one conditioning and recovery treatment with trusted fitness coach Rob Meppelink in the Netherlands, who has now returned to the UK with Bodde.

The former Den Haag star revealed initial recommendations for surgery were followed up by two second opinions in Rotterdam and Amsterdam that showed the worrying scar tissue on scans were from the original injury, suffered in Swansea’s 3-2 defeat to Birmingham City in November 2007.

And he spoke of the gruelling schedule he has undertaken to ensure he could be fit and firing well in time to aid a Swansea push for promotion.

“When it happened again my world closed in. I didn’t want to believe it,” said Bodde on his curtailed comeback against Sheffield United earlier this season. “But after two weeks things went into perspective a little and I could see I might not have needed the operation which was huge for me.

“And since I’ve been delighted with the way things have gone.

“I have had my own coach in Holland, training six, seven days a week with a few sessions every day.

“I always train hard, but this time it’s been unbelievable – first thing in the morning until three o’clock without a break.

“Then again in the evening, training on an indoor beach where the sand helps the control in my legs.

“I am stronger now and ready for every session so now is the next step for me and we will see how we react.”

Swansea fans will be itching for a return of the player who tempted former boss Roberto Martinez into making a £4m bid for his services in August, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the future of fellow midfielder Leon Britton.

But, although Bodde is keen to play down the immediacy of any return, he did stress he wants to repay the faith and support shown in him by the club who okayed his return to Holland.

“I have to take it slowly, week by week, and see where we are before I start talking about playing again,” he said. “I will see how things go and we can make decisions then. I’ve seen what can happen so I’m not going to start naming days.

“I would certainly think I’d be back before the end of the season – I’m in training now so if I’m not back by then it’s not a good sign.

“I’m 27, I have good years left so I won’t rush anything. There is no pressure, the club have supported me really well, trusted me and given me all the time I needed. They’ve trusted me.”

JORDI Lopez has targeted a regular spot in Paulo Sousa's plans as he bids to fulfil his potential at Swansea City.

The Spaniard made his 10th start of the season in Tuesday night's frustrating home draw with Coventry, but was replaced by Joe Allen at half-time.

Having often found himself out of the starting line-up this season, it proved a frustrating night for the Uefa Cup winner.

But he insists another chance against Watford tomorrow would mean an opportunity to deliver.

"Like everybody here, I want to play from the start in every game," said the former Sevilla midfielder.

"I'm working every day to get a starting position in the team. It's not easy as there are many good players here and you need to take your chance when you are in the first XI.

"When any player gets three or four games in a row it is better for him because it is difficult to come in and make an impression in just one game.

"I need a run of games to show my quality, but I understand there are a lot of players wanting to do the same."

The 28-year-old says he could see why Sousa substituted him at the break in the midweek stalemate.

He added: "I understood that the gaffer wanted to make a tactical switch.

"Of course, it was disappointing as I wanted to help the team, but there wasn't any problem.

"I want the best for the team and I am behind the gaffer in his decisions."