Nick Cusack, Jason Smith, Steve Jones and Kris O'Leary could all return as John Hollins' men go in search of a much needed win against Oldham. Midfielder David Romo is doubtful and Steve Watkin tweaked ankle ligaments in training.

Venezualan striker Giovanni Saverese is away on World Cup duty, so it is more than likely that Walter Boyle will be partnered by Matthias Verschave up front.

The Swans' faint survival hopes depend on a run of five wins and consecutive defeats for their rivals and John Hollins has said: "All I am interested in is winning five football matches."
Team(probable): Freestone, Price, Howard, Bound, Todd, Cusack, Jenkins, Lacey, Roberts, Verschave, Boyd

JOHN Hollins has told his players to forget their relegation rivals and focus on winning their last five games of the season ahead of the home clash with Oldham tomorrow (3pm).

And despite their perilous position at the foot of the Second Division, the Swansea City manager insists his squad is still in high spirits.

"The mood of myself and the players is fine, exactly the same as it has been all along," said Hollins.

"We are not exactly jumping through hoops, but we are confident we can do the business tomorrow.

"We have to get a victory and we will put out an attacking line-up to try to win by as many goals as possible.

"If we win our last five games that's all we can do. There's no point worrying about others now."

Swansea must take maximum points from now until the end of the season and hope either Swindon or Cambridge fail to pick up a single point from their remaining matches.

"We have to rely on others now which we did not want to do. But we just have to carry on as normal," added Hollins.

"We're working on things to help us beat Oldham. We could do with an early goal to settle us down and we must pressurise the opposition so they cannot play at their leisure.

"Our final ball and our finishing let us down at Port Vale, and that must improve."

Hollins said he had not thought about the prospect of life back in Division Three yet, though he had begun to consider the squad he wants at Vetch Field next season.

"I have thought about the players who I'm going to keep and about those, who for whatever reason, want to move on.

"I would be doing that wherever we were in the league, so we're doing all the normal things."

Tomorrow, Hollins will be without top scorer Giovanni Savarese who joined up with the Venezuela squad in South America yesterday.

But he does have strikers Walter Boyd, Steve Watkin and Matthias Verschave to choose from. Skipper Nick Cusack may return from a hamstring strain, while Kristian O'Leary could also be back. Fellow defenders Jason Smith and Steve Jones are back in training but remain very doubtful.

All Football League clubs will observe a minute's silence tomorrow in memory of referee Mike North who collapsed and died while refereeing the Southend v Mansfield match on Monday.

Officials will wear green shirts with black armbands as a mark of respect.


Swansea (from): Freestone, Howard, Price, Bound, O'Leary, Todd, Fabiano, Romo, Cusack, Lacey, Appleby, Roberts, Jenkins, Boyd, Watkin, Verschave, J Jones, Coates, Phillips.

Swansea boss John Hollins has suffered a blow ahead of his side's win-or-bust Division Two match against Oldham at the Vetch Field.

Top scorer Giovanni Savarese will miss the Oldham game and the Welsh derby against Wrexham on Tuesday after being called up by Venezuela.

The Venezuelan FA have invoked the five-day rule, forcing Hollins to release Savarese for the match against Colombia on Tuesday.

Venezuela are bottom of their World Cup qualifying group, with no hope of reaching the finals.

A bug's life

Oldham boss Andy Ritchie expects to rest some players for the trip after the Latics secured their Division Two place with the Easter Monday win against Bristol Rovers.

Gary Kelly (stomach bug) is struggling to be fit so Ritchie expects to rest him, while he has not decided yet about Shaun Garnett, David Eyres and Carlo Corazzin.

But Ritchie knows the game against the Swans is vitally important for the Welsh side as they battle against relegation.

If Oldham deny them victory John Hollins' side will be playing in Division Three next season.

Ritchie said: "We don't think about that, it's just another game.

"We've got to take the game on its merits and I know it's a very big game for them."

Rumours are rife that if Cardiff buy a big money striker then the likes of Kevin Nugent or Kurt Nogan could be headed for Swansea this summer.

The big-spending Bluebirds are believed to be chasing a big money buy to reinforce their striking potential, a move which would leave a number of current strikers at the club surplus to requirements.

Nugent, Nogan and even former Vetch loan star Paul Brayson could be Swans targets for a move across South Wales from Ninian Park.

Elsewhere on the transfer front, Fulham, Sunderland and Preston are all monitoring the situation of Swans winger Stuart Roberts, whilst Preston are also chasing out-of-contract star Jason price, who has indicated he wants to leave the Vetch.

The businessman said to be organising a Dubai-based takeover of The Swans has been pouring cold water on claims that a deal is imminent.

Haulier David Bradshaw's sister Ann Brazier, who is a property dealer in the USA, was said to be behind the deal which would involve Leighton James and Dean Saunders coming in as manager and coach.

Bradshaw has played down the link, though, and said: "It is true that I asked my sister to approach her contacts in Dubai, but she's not at all interested in football and I don't think there's been much of a response.

"All this is very exaggerated and as far as I can see the club is no nearer being sold than it was five months ago.

"To be honest these kinds of stories could risk killing any possible interest as these people don't like the publicity."

John Hollins has received assurances over his future after claims that a takeover of Swansea City is imminent.

Weekend press reports suggested that Swans' fan David Bradshaw was representing a Middle East consortium ready to take control of the troubled Second Division club and install ex-player and radio pundit Leighton James as manager.

James said yesterday that it would be "an honour greater than representing Wales" but Swansea's chief executive Mike Lewis denied there was any truth in the story and added it had caused un-told damage within the club.

Lewis said: "I rang John on Saturday night because there was a story on the radio putting Leighton James's name forward (as manager).

"I haven't spoken to Leighton, so I don't know if his name is at the top or the bottom of it - but I don't care. All I'm saying is that when people are employed by football clubs it is totally out of order that names are thrown up for certain jobs.

"I know football clubs are open to rumour, but some of these stories have gone beyond the pale and it's not helping people doing their jobs inside the club.

"Fortunately, John is a very sensible sort of guy, not the sort to jump up and down. He has still got a job to do, and Ninth Floor (Swansea City owners) will honour his contract."

Lewis said he had received a call from a concerned club employee on Sunday, although he denied it came from Hollins.

"He wondered whether his own future was in doubt if what he had read and listened to was correct," said Lewis. "That's the impact it is having on the football club at the moment.

"We are talking to people about the sale of the club, but it's not going to be very quick. The speculation over the last few days has been a long way off the truth and has caused disruption.

"I think some personal egos are being massaged. The sale of the club is unlikely to be finalised within six months and the speculation that is going on at the moment is doing nothing to help."

TOP-SCORER Giovanni Savarese has been ruled out of Swansea City's next two Second Division games because of international duty.

The 14-goal frontman has been called up by Venezuela for their World Cup qualifier against Colombia on April 24 and was due to jet out to South America today.

He will miss this Saturday's visit of Oldham Athletic and the Welsh derby clash with Wrexham at Vetch Field next Tuesday - the same night as the international.

Venezuela are entitled to insist players join up with the squad five days before an international match.



Savarese returned to South America for Venezuela's 5-0 defeat by Argentina last month, but never made it off the substitutes' bench.

The loss of Savarese is another blow to Swansea's fading hopes of avoiding an immediate return to Division Three.

They did, however, receive something of a boost last night when relegation rivals Cambridge were hammered 5-1 by Millwall at the Abbey Stadium.

The result means Cambridge stay 15 points ahead of John Hollins's side in 19th place.

Swansea must win their last five games and hope Cambridge lose their final four to draw level on points with the Us and force the drop to be decided on goal difference.

Swindon Town currently have the same number of points as Cambridge with just three games to play.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Wales has made a profit of nearly £750,000 from the four internationals staged at the Millennium Stadium up until now, it has been revealed.

The FAW's accounts for the year ending in March show profits of £72,000 for the first game at the stadium against Finland.

The World Cup qualifier against Norway brought in £346,000 and last month's visit of Ukraine is expected to clear more than £300,000.

The FAW actually lost money on last summer's glamour clash with Brazil because of the large guarantee paid to the South American samba kings.

The income from the Millennium Stadium will help pay for away matches and World Cup preparations, such as the recent training camp in La Manga.

The Neil McClure last night claimed the takeover of Swansea City Football Club had moved significantly closer.

But Swans chairman McClure is resigned to the existing owners, Ninth Floor plc, having to sell Swansea City as a Third Division club.

He confirmed a recent visit to Dubai but refused to substantiate reports that a Middle East consortium, headed by the sister of a Midlands-based Swansea supporter, was poised to buy the ailing Swans.

'I am presently in Paris but that doesn't mean I am negotiating to sell the club to a French connection,' he told The Western Mail.

'But I will say that we are talking to more than one interested party. I can't tell you if the deal will go through before the end of the season.

'There are a lot of things going on, a whole range of options.

'We are trying to make sure we find a buyer suitable to the Ninth Floor shareholders and for the club's future well-being.

'We have made a decision to get rid of the club and I am very hopeful we'll do so.

'I would be disappointed if we still owned Swansea City in six months' time.

'The sale could happen quicker than that but people will only spend money if they regard it as a worthwhile investment.

'The days are gone when people with a few hundred grand played with their own money in a football club.

'They'll only do it as a major business opportunity and I'm afraid that Swansea City playing in the Third Division again next season is a factor of the sale.

'We had a good result against Wycombe in midweek. But personally I am resigned to the club going down.

'If we wanted to avoid relegation we should have floated the club last autumn when we had the opportunity to put in place the capital that would have guaranteed the club's future.

'The moment that plan was scuppered we effectively had our backs to the wall. From the time we didn't get the flotation away we were looking at a more difficult life.'

McClure, who has scarcely been seen at the Vetch Field this season, admitted he had lost touch with developments regarding a proposed move to a new stadium at Morfa.

'Ninth Floor put a lot of money, time and effort into the move and it will be a great shame if it falls through now.

'But I haven't attended a meeting regarding the project for two or three months. I am no longer in day-to-day contact about the scheme. It's for Swansea council to announce what progress is being made.'

McClure dismissed reports that he or Ninth Floor would become financially involved with Queens Park Rangers once the Swansea deal had been finalised. 'I've had my fill of troubled football clubs and can't think why I would want bigger problems with QPR than I have already got.

'Our business is security and IT. That's where we are going to focus from now on. I'm not going to waste any more time on football.'

It was untrue to say that Swansea manager John Hollins had been hamstrung by a lack of money to strengthen the squad, added McClure.

'I have been 100 per cent supportive of whatever the manager wanted to do and I am very disappointed it hasn't come off.

'Hopefully the club has learned some lessons. Spending money in the transfer market isn't what it's all about.

'We have always had a big squad for our division. If the money should have been spent another way the club will understand that second time around.

'The most important thing is what size wage bill you can afford. These are not lessons I will have to worry about.

'But my guess is that with the right people behind it the club will bounce back quickly.'

At times it may have been more about endurance than entertainment, but this result brings precious peace of mind.

Admittedly, Vale’s 1-0 win over a pretty awful Swansea side yesterday was uninspiring. But who would have bet, at the turn of the year, the Valiants would secure their Second Division status with six games to go.

Vale’s surge to safety has been driven by a superb effort by a small squad of players who have worked hard to set their standards higher than this weary Bank Holiday performance.

Vale’s run has, of course, also powered them to a place in the LDV Vans Trophy final on Sunday and it is perhaps understandable the players had half a mind on their big day out.

Not that Vale, who were back to full strength with the return of Matt Carragher, Dave Brammer, Neil Brisco and Tony Naylor, didn’t deserve to win this game. It’s just the Valiants’ wins this season, particularly at home, have tended to be of the swashbucking variety.

Vale have played well and lost far more than they have played badly and won, but if they can develop the habit of picking up points even when playing below-par, suggestions this side can push for promotion next year will be confirmed.

Back to this season and the only issues at stake at Vale Park yesterday were three points, safety and a clean bill of health. The fact all three were achieved will be a huge relief to the management as they finally turn their undivided attention to Sunday’s big game.

“It was a very disappointing performance,” admitted Vale assistant-manager Mark Grew. “We’ve got the three points and safety, but that’s all we can say about the game. Maybe it was a case of final syndrome and players didn’t want to get injured.

“It was so frustrating to have to stand there and watch. You wanted to have a go at them, but the players have done so much over the last few months it’s difficult to criticise.

“It was just disappointing to play in that manner at home. The fans were good, but from a professional point of view you have to be disappointed.”

Grew went on to compare Vale’s season to the hard slog which was the Grand National. Certainly the endurance factor on Vale Park’s punishing pitch is reminiscent of Aintree. At least this win saw Vale over the final hurdle of their safety campaign. It would take a calamity of Devon Loch proportions for them to slip up now.

But the chances of Swansea playing Second Division football next season are roughly the same as those of Elton John spending the summer pot-holing in Prestatyn.

Swans’ boss John Hollins defiantly insisted the fat lady hadn’t yet started singing - probably because she has already given up and gone home.

The pitifully sparse away following in an encouraging Vale Park crowd of 4,396 suggested Swans’ fans had already accepted their side wasn’t going to begin a belated escape bid at Vale Park - a view endorsed when Vale took the lead after just 10 minutes.

Brammer’s cross from the right eluded Naylor, but was chested down by Stephen Brooker who then stabbed the ball beyond Swansea ’keeper Roger Freestone into the far corner.

The goal was perhaps cruel on the visitors, who should have gone ahead five minutes earlier when Lee Jenkins lobbed over the bar after a Vale defensive mix-up. But Brooker’s strike paved the way for a one-sided first-half in which Vale should have put the game beyond doubt.

Brooker had two further efforts blocked on the line, and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s close-range drive also suffered the same fate as a Vale side who were clearly playing well within themselves.

Perhaps sensing this was their Second Division swansong (sorry) the visitors rallied for a 20-minute spell after the break, but even then never really threatened a leveller.

Vale should have doubled their lead on 64 minutes when Brooker freed Alex Smith, but his shot was well saved by Freestone. Brooker fired over from close range 11 minutes from time before Freestone again came to the vistors’ rescue in injury time, thrusting out a leg to block the luckless Brooker’s drive.

“We felt once we got the early goal we would go on to win three or four nil, but we took our foot off the pedal and couldn’t get going,” added Grew.

No matter. With the nagging threat of relegation now out of the way Vale can go full-throttle to bring the Trophy home on Sunday before setting their sights on the top-10 finish which now seems well within their reach.

VALE: Goodlad 7, Carragher 6, Brammer 7, Walsh 6, Burton 6, Cummins 6, Naylor 6, Bridge-Wilkinson 6, Brisco 6, Smith 6, Brooker 7
Substitutes: Tankard (for Smith, 19), Delaney, Widdrington, Viljanen, Twiss.

SWANSEA: Freestone, Howard, Bound, Savarese, Phillips, Price, Jenkins, Todd, Romo, Fabiano, Boyd Substitutes: Appleby (for Fabiano, 45), Roberts (for Savarese, 45), Mumford (for Price, 18), Coates, Jones

Star Man: Dave Brammer...looked Vale’s most influential player in a below-par team display.
Goal Attempts: Vale 12 (five on target); Swansea 9 (three on target)

SWANS manager John Hollins has dismissed newspaper reports of a shake-up at the club as a lot of hot air.

Hollins was talking about Sunday newspaper reports of a possible takeover bid which linked former Swans star and radio pundit Leighton James with the manager's position, with Hollins moving to a director of football role.

"Nothing affects me in that respect," said Hollins.

"If people would put as much hot air into a balloon as some of these people do then we might get something done in Swansea, we might actually get things pushing in the right direction.

"Distractions are distractions. They are all rumours, it doesn't bother me one little bit."

Asked if it affected him about the printing of names linked with his job, Hollins confirmed: "It doesn't affect me one little bit. As far as I'm concerned it's a lot of hot air and there's a hell of a lot of it around.

"But that's life. I can't do a lot about that. All I can do is play the game, improve the team, improve the club, until somebody comes in to buy it.

"If and when they do, we will see who they are. But at the moment my job is to win five football matches."

Port Vale...1
Swansea City...0

PORT Vale provided no safe harbour for Swansea City as this defeat virtually guaranteed Third Division football at Vetch Field next season.

John Hollins's side are just about still afloat in Division Two, but a point for Cambridge tonight and one for Swindon on Saturday would leave Swansea anchored in the relegation zone.

To have any chance of survival, the Swans must win all five of their remaining games and score a few goals in the process.

They must also hope either Cambridge, who have five games left, or Swindon, who have three, pick up no more points this season.

Even if one of those sides does embark on a losing run, five wins would only draw Swansea level on points and goal difference would come into play.

At present, Swansea's is vastly inferior to that of their rivals. They have scored the fewest goals in the division (38) and only Luton Town and doomed Oxford United have conceded more than Swansea's 66 goals.

The sums will be irrelevant anyway if Hollins's side continue to perform like they did yesterday.After Lee Jenkins lifted a decent early chance over the crossbar, Swansea fell behind to Stephen Brooker's drive and never really looked like getting back into the game.

The impressive Dave Brammer down the right and Alex Smith on the left had caused problems for Swansea's back four from the outset.

And it came as little surprise on 10 minutes when Brammer's whipped cross eluded Chris Todd and found Brooker unmarked on the far post to score.

Even so early in the game, there was a feeling it would not be Swansea's day.

Vale, looking forward to next weekend's LDV Vans Trophy Final at Cardiff's Millennium

Stadium, came into this match having lost only once in their last 17 matches.

Perhaps not surprisingly, considering they were on home ground, they adapted far better than the visitors to another shocking Second Division pitch.

Brian Horton's side pushed the ball wide on to the greener areas of turf, while Swansea attacked up the middle and repeatedly got stuck in the mud.

Giovanni Savarese did have a 20-yard shot saved before Jason Price wasted Swansea's best opportunity to equalise in open play on the half-hour mark.

David Romo curled in a free-kick which Price had earned, but the 24-year-old sent his header over the bar from six yards.

Price should have scored his fifth of the season and deserved to do so after a battling display at right-back.

But the home side should have finished the contest before the interval.

Brammer volleyed into the side netting, Brooker was denied a second goal by a Matthew Bound clearance off the line and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson fired straight at Todd when a shot either side would have doubled the lead.

At the break, Hollins replaced the out-of-sorts Savarese with Stuart Roberts and Nicolas Fabiano with Richie Appleby.

Swansea threatened slightly more and were aided by referee Frazer Stretton who three times moved Vale back 10 yards at free-kicks.

On one occasion this led to the rare sight of a direct free-kick next to the penalty spot, for which nearly all the home side lined up between the posts.

Walter Boyd, seeking his third goal in a week, blasted the ball too close to Vale keeper Mark Goodlad and the chance was gone.

In a last throw of the dice, Hollins replaced Price with league debutant Andrew Mumford and pushed the big defender up front.

But it was Vale who again made most of the running, with Brooker and Smith both foiled by Roger Freestone when goals looked odds-on.

Swansea petered out towards the end of the game as their season will now surely do.

The visit of Oldham Athletic to the Vetch next Saturday will probably spell the end, if not it will only be a stay of execution.

And with the club set to travel through stormy waters off the field in the coming months, the prospect of the Third Division is not too bright.


Port Vale:

Goodlad, Carragher, Brammer, Walsh, Burton, Cummins, Naylor, Bridge-Wilkinson, Brisco, Smith (Tankard 79), Brooker. Subs not used: Delaney, Widdrington, Viljanen, Twiss

Swansea:

Freestone, Howard, Bound, Savarese (Roberts 45), Phillips, Price (Mumford 76), Jenkins, Todd, Romo, Fabiano (Appleby), Boyd. Subs not used: Coates, J Jones

Booked: Carragher 56, Burton 89

Attendance: 4,396

Referee: Frazer Stretton

Swans Star Choice: Gareth Phillips

DEFIANT Swansea City boss John Hollins insisted the future of the club is bright following the 1-0 defeat at Port Vale.

And Hollins refused to concede that his side now face an immediate return to Division Three despite being 15 points away from safety with just five matches remaining.

"There are five games to play and we will win those five games,'' said Hollins.

"Anything can happen until the fat lady sings.

"I have never heard her sing yet.

"If the fat lady sings, the fat lady sings.''

He added: "If that happens then it's an opportunity to blood younger players, to work with younger players and look to a bright future.''

Andrew Mumford was given a league debut at Vale Park, after a season which has seen many youngsters come through the ranks to establish themselves in the first team squad.

Kris O'Leary has cemented his place at the back and Chris Todd has emerged in recent weeks.

Lee Jenkins, Gareth Phillips and Bari Morgan have bolstered the club's midfield.

"We've got good young players here and it's hard to throw them into a relegation battle and expect them to change things for you,'' said Hollins.

"We've asked a lot of Chris Todd but he is going to be a good one for us in the future, as is Gareth Phillips. Andrew Mumford is another young player we've brought on.

"And it's good to see Richie Appleby back and Walter Boyd looking sharp again.''

Hollins did admit that his side needed to pick up three points from the Easter trip to the Potteries.

"It's not enough. Even a point would have been something.

"We tried everything really but it was one of those games you could see fizzling out to a 1-0 loss.

"We lost a goal to start with and had some chances but did not take them.''

SWANSEA City chief executive Mike Lewis yesterday firmly denied there was set to be a massive sheikh up at the club after a number of reports in Sunday newspapers.

Speaking before the Port Vale match, Lewis said that the reports, which suggested the club would be sold to an Arab-backed consortium linked with Swans supporter and Neath-based businessman Dave Bradshaw, were nothing but bar-room tittle tattle which did nothing to help the imminent sale of the club.

The reports had also suggested that the alleged new owners would bring in as boss ex-Wales and Swans star Leighton James, now a pundit on Real Radio as well as a columnist for the Evening Post.

Lewis also rubbished those stories saying that Ninth Floor would give manager John Hollins full backing all the while they were the owners of the club.

In an exclusive interview to the Welsh media, Lewis said there were parties interested in the club but refused to say who they were and how many were interested.

"The speculation we have had in the press in the last few days has been a long way off the truth," said Lewis, "to the extent that it's caused disruption at the football club.

"I think some personal egos are being massaged which is causing some problems inside the club.

"We are asking you guys who write these stories and pick up the news to try to get the latest facts from the people who count and not get it from people on the periphery of the club who sometimes only know half the story.

"The sale of the club is unlikely to be finalised within six months and the speculation that is going on is doing nothing to let these talks develop.

"This is an appeal to the press: if you haven't got the facts, don't speculate to the extent of introducing names for jobs where people are already under contract.

Lewis said that after the speculation in the Sunday tabloids he had received a call from a concerned club employee regarding his future.

"He rang me to say that, if what he read and listened to was correct, was his future at the club in doubt.

"That's the sort if impact it's having on the club at the moment. We are talking to people but the speculation is sometimes way off the mark and the most important thing is it's doing no good at all for the smooth running of the club in difficult times."

Lewis said he first heard of the story about the alleged takeover bid on Real Radio at 7pm on Saturday night.

He said he rang John Hollins informing him that Leighton James's name had been put forward in the report.

"I haven't spoke to Leighton so I don't know whether his involvement as such is at the top end of the bottom end of this," said Lewis. "I don't care really.

"All I'm saying is that when people are employed by a club it is totally out or order for names in any department, whether it be my job, John Hollins's job or anyone else, to be thrown up."

Lewis said he was not prepared to talk about the alleged takeover bid involving Dave Bradshaw and Ann Brazier as reported.

"No-one has made a phone call to me over the past two weeks," he said.

"I've heard that people in the club have been approached directly or indirectly, some of it in such a way that quite frankly it's bordering on libellous.

"I am not going to comment on that, I will just say that the club will be sold, it may take six months and the people to speak to are Neil McClure or myself, not other people and certainly not the likes of Dave Bradshaw."

The chief executive said the reports linking Leighton James with the manager's post would not affect John Hollins.

"I will take it up with Real Radio because they sponsor us, we have done everything to support them and it was earth shattering for me to drive down the motorway to hear this story," said Lewis.

"If there is an element of self promotion, and I will tell Leighton this too, let's have it on the table.

"But let's not have people going in the back door picking up bits and pieces and making assumptions.

"If there was something to say we would say it and NM has said that the next statement he makes, which will be about the sale of the club, will be to the press face to face.

"I am worried more for Leighton and John as much as anyone else but if Real think its a story they can't ignore then fair enough, but a phone call to the football club would not have gone amiss."

Lewis said the sale of the club would not be completed by the end of this season and may not even be completed by the start of next.

"By the time matters such as due diligence have taken place and people have seen the club, I would say six months is a fair amount of time to sell a football club, bearing in mind we've had a couple of months at it already.

In one of the Sunday newspaper articles an impeccable source at Vetch Field is quoted.

Lewis said he had a fair idea who the source was and added: "Bar-room talk and tittle tattle is doing the club no good at all at the moment, including the individual who has been named as successor to John Hollins.

"John Hollins is under contract to Ninth Floor and the company will honour that contract.

"When new owners come in my own position may be in jeopardy, they will decide what structure they want but that hasn't happened, so all this talk is pure speculation."

Lewis said that in a takeover bid confidentiality was one of the most important issues.

"In a takeover bid sometimes it's under the request of the people interested that they don't have names revealed.

"One of the parties has already had names revealed and they're not happy about it.

"They might even decide to walk away, so I'm not going to tell you, (a) who they are, and (b) how many interested parties there are.

"We have to sign with any potential buyer, from the first time we talk, a confidentiality agreement. We would be breaking that in naming those parties."

Swansea City must rely on a mathematical miracle after their relegation from the Second Division was virtually rubber-stamped at Vale Park.

As the crestfallen Swansea players trooped off after this latest defeat, the song blaring from the Vale speakers said it all: "Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye."

Swansea are parting company with Vale as they head back to the Third Division, their fate probably being confirmed this weekend. Slim survival hopes depend on winning their five remaining games and pushing either Cambridge or Swindon - who would have to lose all their fixtures - into the bottom four.

Even if that improbable event happened, Swansea would have to significantly improve a goal difference that is respectively twelve and sixteen worse off than Swindon and Cambridge at the moment. "Until the fat lady sings, I am looking at it as five more games left," said Swansea manager John Hollins.

"If the fat lady sings, she sings. But I haven't heard her yet and anything can happen. "We've got five games left and I am here to work and win those games.

If that (relegation) is going to happen, it's an opportunity to blood younger players and look to a bright future." Hollins gave the broadest hint yet that he had accepted the drop as he began to plan for the future and former Llanelli defender Andrew Mumford was handed his league debut in the final 15 minutes.

Whether Hollins will be around next season, however, remains to be seen with take-over talk in the air. But he said increasing speculation over the prospective sale of the club had not affected him.

"There has been a lot of hot air and nothing but rumours," said Hollins. "I can't do anything about that, but it doesn't affect me one little bit.

We will start again next season and do whatever we have got to do." Swansea's resistance held as long as it took Port Vale to mount an attack, Neil Brisco began the tenth minute move by spreading play to the right and Dave Brammer's cross eluded the Swans' defence for Stephen Brooker to finish clinically at the far post.

The pitch, heavy in places, offered excuses for some wayward distribution, but it was not difficult to see why both sides have spent the entire season in the wrong half of the table.

Vale showed the greater menace, although Giovanni Savarese tested goalkeeper Mark Goodlad and Jason Price headed over David Romo's free-kick. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's goal bound drive was blocked by a prostrate Chris Todd and Brammer's volley from the edge of the area flew into the side netting.

And Vale were cursing their luck again when Brooker rounded Todd to unleash a shot that was cleared off the line by a perfectly positioned Mathew Bound. The arrival of Stuart Roberts and Richard Appleby at the restart added penetration to Swansea's attacks.

Roberts, in particular, was lively through the middle and his pace won a free-kick that was advanced ten yards by referee Frazer Stretton because of home defence.

But Walter Boyd drilled his shot too close to Goodlad and Vale would have doubled their lead but for Roger Freestone's alertness as he raced from his line to deny Alex Smith Brooker almost capitalised on a pass from Brammer with ten minutes left, but he failed to control his effort.

Swansea chief executive Mike Lewis has hit out at media speculation over the sale of the club.

The Swans have been put on the market by owners Ninth Floor and weekend reports suggested an Arab-backed consortium was interested in taking over.

Local businessman and Swansea supporter David Bradshaw has also been subject of the take over speculation.

Former player Leighton James was also linked with a coaching role at the Vetch.

But Lewis slammed the disruptive effects the continued speculation was having on the club. "It has been a long way off the truth.

"The sale of the club is unlikely to be finalised in the next six months and the speculation is doing nothing to help the sale develop," he said.

Doomed

"I had a call yesterday from someone employed by the club saying that his whole future was in doubt if what he'd read or listened to was correct," Lewis added.

The chief executive denied the call was made by under pressure Swansea manager John Hollins.

Hollins has over two years left on his contract at the Vetch, but his side are all but mathematically doomed to relegation following Monday's 1-0 defeat at Port Vale.

"It is totally out of order for names to be thrown up. I know football clubs are open to rumour, but some of these stories are beyond the pale," Lewis said.

An early goal by Stephen Brooker sealed a 1-0 win for Port Vale and almost certainly condemned Swansea to relegation at Vale Park.

Vale took control from the start and following a sustained spell of pressure, Brooker coolly converted Dave Brammer's 10th-minute cross.

But Swansea made a real fight of it with a spirited second-half display as Walter Boyd and Jason Price both missed good opportunities. Substitute Richard Appleby was influential as the visitors continued to force the pace, but Vale held firm to secure the points.

We will play five games and we will win five games John Hollins Swansea could still mathematically avoid the drop, but their goal difference of minus 28 makes that an unlikely prospect.

But manager John Hollins remained upbeat: "We will play five games and we will win five games. That is what I'm here to do."

SWANSEA City boss John Hollins rued missed chances as almost inevitable relegation loomed even nearer after the 0-0 draw with Rotherham.

In a repeat of last season's title decider, Rotherham were over-run by a rampant Swansea in the second half, but hung on to get a crucial point which keeps them on target for automatic promotion.

But once again glorious chances were not taken and Hollins was left disappointed that the three points were not taken.

Matthew Bound had a 47th minute penalty saved by Paul Pettinger and somehow top scorer Giovanni Savarese missed a header from three yards out as Swansea went for broke.

Their second half display deserved all three points, but the boss was left disappointed.

"It was two points lost," said Hollins.

"I thought we were the better side, although not necessarily the stronger and we should have won.

"There was a lot of satisfaction from the game. For once we have got a game where we have come off very disappointed that we did not come out with three points," he added.

Hollins stood by defender and skipper for the day Bound despite him missing the spot kick that could have won the game.

"Everybody says it's easy to take a penalty but it isn't," he said.

"He took it on himself to take it and I have got admiration that he got hold of it, put it down and took it.

"There are not too many who want to do that when the time comes."

The boss said the other great chance of Saturday fell to the right man (Giovanni Savarese) but once again it was not taken.

Despite the result and the immediate future looking bleak Hollins remained upbeat.

"We can take satisfaction from the game," he said.

"Young players like Gareth Phillips and Chris Todd had great games. I thought Todd did really well.

"There were three different types of players against him and he dealt with them.

"It's good to talk about good things that come out of performances but it was definitely, for me, two points lost."

RELEGATION for Swansea City could spark a mass exodus, with up to 10 players set to leave the club in the summer. Crowd favourites Giovanni Savarese and Walter Boyd are almost certain to be on their way. Their contracts are up, along with promising local youngsters like Stuart Roberts and Jason Price.

David Romo, Nicolas Fabiano and Matthias Verschave are also set to leave, as the club faces up to having to trim their wage bill in the Third Division next season.

Several other squad members whose contracts are up are also expected to be released as John Hollins, already starved of cash, faces a massive rebuilding job.

But one man determined not to go is the boss himself. Hollins still has two years remaining on his contract. And he says: "Why should my situation be any different now? I am the same man who was a hero here just a year ago when we won the Third Division championship.

"I had a job to do then and as far as I am concerned I have the same job to do now. That's managing this club to the best of my ability."

Despite some disquiet on the terraces, the general feeling among fans is that Hollins should not be forced to take all the blame for the club's dismal record. In more than three years he has been allowed to spend just pounds 50,000 - on League of Wales striker Tommy Mutton. The rest of his signings have not involved a fee.

As well as a lack of cash, Swansea have also suffered this season from the boardroom upheaval which eventually resulted in the whole club being put up for sale.

Hollins has steadfastly refused to pin any of the blame on his directors. But privately he must feel badly let down.

After maintaining a silence over the matter of the sale of the club, depite the many rumours flying around, Swans chairman Neil McClure has finally opened up to the press with regards the sale of the club.

McClure last night claimed the takeover of Swansea City Football Club had moved significantly closer.

He confirmed a recent visit to Dubai but refused to substantiate reports that a Middle East consortium, headed by the sister of a Midlands-based Swansea supporter, was poised to buy the ailing Swans.

'I am presently in Paris but that doesn't mean I am negotiating to sell the club to a French connection,' he told Karl Woodward of The Western Mail.

'But I will say that we are talking to more than one interested party. I can't tell you if the deal will go through before the end of the season.

'There are a lot of things going on, a whole range of options.

'We are trying to make sure we find a buyer suitable to the Ninth Floor shareholders and for the club's future well-being.

'We have made a decision to get rid of the club and I am very hopeful we'll do so.

'I would be disappointed if we still owned Swansea City in six months' time.

'The sale could happen quicker than that but people will only spend money if they regard it as a worthwhile investment.

'The days are gone when people with a few hundred grand played with their own money in a football club.

'They'll only do it as a major business opportunity and I'm afraid that the possibility that Swansea City might be playing in the Third Division again next season is a factor of the sale.

'We had a good result against Wycombe in midweek. But personally I am resigned to the club going down.

'If we wanted to avoid relegation we should have floated the club last autumn when we had the opportunity to put in place the capital that would have guaranteed the club's future.

'The moment that plan was scuppered we effectively had our backs to the wall. From the time we didn't get the flotation away we were looking at a more difficult life.'

McClure, admitted he had lost touch with developments regarding a proposed move to a new stadium at Morfa.

'Ninth Floor put a lot of money, time and effort into the move and it will be a great shame if it falls through now.

'But I haven't attended a meeting regarding the project for two or three months. I am no longer in day-to-day contact about the scheme. It's for Swansea council to announce what progress is being made.'

McClure dismissed reports that he or Ninth Floor would become financially involved with Queens Park Rangers once the Swansea deal had been finalised. 'I've had my fill of troubled football clubs and can't think why I would want bigger problems with QPR than I have already got.

'Our business is security and IT. That's where we are going to focus from now on. I'm not going to waste any more time on football.'

"It is untrue to say that Swansea manager John Hollins had been hamstrung by a lack of money to strengthen the squad", added McClure.

'I have been 100 per cent supportive of whatever the manager wanted to do and I am very disappointed it hasn't come off.

'Hopefully the club has learned some lessons. Spending money in the transfer market isn't what it's all about.

'We have always had a big squad for our division. If the money should have been spent another way the club will understand that second time around.

'The most important thing is what size wage bill you can afford. These are not lessons I will have to worry about.

'But my guess is that with the right people behind it the club will bounce back quickly.'