SWANSEA chairman Mike Lewis has admitted he should have acted sooner in sacking former boss John Hollins. Hollins left at the start of the week after relegation last season and a dismal start to the new campaign. Colin Addison was installed as the new boss, but Lewis said: "We didn't note the mood of the supporters. We could have acted sooner. We decided to bite the bullet and try something new.''

The new Swansea management team of Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas are unlikely to make sweeping changes for tomorrow's visit of Halifax Town.

Addison said: "We'll be assessing the squad and taking a step-by-step approach."

However, he will have to make do without skipper Nick Cusack who is unavailable with a hamstring injury, and on-loan Reading striker Nathan Tyson.

It was feared that Tyson had suffered cruciate ligament damage, but now he says it is just badly swollen, and he could be set to return to training next week.

Likely side: Freestone, Jenkins, Howard, O'Leary, Bound, Phillips, Mazzina, Roberts, Coates, Sidibe, Williams.

Swans chairman Mike Lewis has admitted that pressure from a section of Swans fans had led to him changing the management team at the Vetch.

"Some of the supporters wanted change and we've given it to them - they talked of boycotts and the like so we've responded," said Lewis, who has been a frequent critic of Internet fan campaigners in the past.

"When two of our strikers were injured, we moved to bring Nathan Tyson in from Reading, and when we started fearing we were losing impetus, we've moved to change the management team.

"Colin has massive experience on the league circuit as a player and manager while Peter is a bright coaching prospect. We wanted to try and turn things around before any possible losing run and slide down the table," Lewis added.

Former assistant manager Alan Curtis has revealed that he thought he was being told about new investors when he and John Hollins were sacked.

"There was talk about the future, but when we were called in we thought it would probably be an update on new investment in the club," he said. "John was called in and came out to say he'd been sacked, so I knew it would be the same for me."

"Clearly the new people wanted a fresh start - it would have probably been impossible for me to work with them anyway from the club's point of view."

Curtis admitted that it was perhaps time for a change, and wished the new management duo of Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas well: "I've loved every minute of being at the club. It's been part of my life for so long - I could never criticise it," he added.

HALIFAX Town are not expected to make any further announcements on a permanent successor to Paul Bracewell for at least 10 days.

And that effectively gives Neil Redfearn and Tony Parks, who are currently in temporary charge of the side, a further three matches - at Swansea City on Saturday, at home to Mansfield Town next Tuesday and home to Leyton Orient on September 22 - in which to push their claims for the job.

Town s board met earlier this week to discuss the situation and saw Redfearn and Parks to hear their views on the situation.

The club has also responded to all those who applied for the job thanking them for their interest and informing them of the fact that there are no plans at this stage to advertise the post.

Redfearn and Parks remain firm favourites to get the job on a permanent basis although they will also have their views on the condition in which they will be willing to take on the role.

The duo will pit their wits against a new management team at the Vetch Field on Saturday after Colin Addison and Paul Nicholas were appointed in succession to John Hollins.

Hollins was sacked yesterday, 24 hours after the Swans were beaten 3-1 by Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

The Swans moved quickly to install former Atletico Madrid and Scarborough boss Addison as number one with Nicholas, who quit Barry Town earlier this week, as his assistant.

Addison was last in the League with Scarborough but he was unable to save the Seasiders from relegation to the Conference two years ago.

Nicholas is the most successful manager in League of Wales history with Barry who he led into the Champions League. Hollins had been in charge at the Vetch Field since July 1998 and he steered them to promotion from the third division a couple of years ago,.

They lasted just one season in Division Two before returning to the League basement and have started the current campaign with just two wins from six games.

The new management team will have to solve a minor striker crisis at City with loan frontman Nathan Taylor the latest to be hit by injury.

The Reading striker could be out for up to nine months after clashing with Plymouth keeper Romain Larrieu on Tuesday. Steve Watkin is also sidelined while John Williams is returning from injury.

Swansea have announced Colin Addison as their new manager, with Peter Nicholas appointed as his assistant.

Hollins - who had 21 months left on a contract reputed to be worth £115,000 a year - and Curtis were dismissed by acting club owner Mike Lewis at a Vetch Field boardroom meeting yesterday.

Swansea have made a poor start to the new league campaign, winning only two of six games on the back of last season's relegation from Division Two, and were beaten 3-1 at Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday.

But it is also understood that there has been friction between Lewis and Hollins since the former took control of the club from then-Ninth Floor chief executive Neil McClure in July.

Hollins, who became Swansea manager in July 1998, was unaware that there were moves behind the scenes to replace him and former Swansea playing hero Curtis.

The pair were given a stay of execution by Swansea's 4-2 victory over Exeter last Saturday, but the defeat at Plymouth provided the spur for Lewis to act.

Lewis refused to comment after yesterday's board meeting, saying that he would answer questions at a Vetch Field press conference this morning where Addison and Nicholas were unveiled.

Addison, manager of Newport County when Lewis was at the Somerton Park club, will become Swansea's 10th manager in 1972.

Although now 60, Addison has never lost his enthusiasm for the game and remains as fit as men half his age.

Having started his playing career at Arsenal, Addison first came to national prominence when, as player-manager, he guided non-league Hereford United to a famous FA Cup victory over First Division Newcastle United in

Addison went on to manage New-12 years. port County and Derby County and enjoyed several successful spells in Spain, including Athletico Madrid where he succeeded Ron Atkinson with whom he had worked at West Bromwich Albion.

He later returned to South Wales where he almost took Merthyr Tydfil back into the Nationwide Conference, and just missed out on the Cardiff City job in February 1998 when Frank Burrows returned to Ninian Park.

Addison eventually landed a league job at struggling Scarborough but he failed to safeguard their league status when Carlisle goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored an injury-time winner to keep the Cumbrians up.

Last season Addison moved on to Yeovil and steered the Somerset side into the third round of the FA Cup where they lost to a last-minute goal at Bolton Wanderers.

Yeovil also lost out to Rushden & Diamonds in the race for the Conference title and a coveted Football League place, prompting Addison's departure from the club.

Nicholas, 41, will provide the youthful link between manager and dressing room and is poised to take on most of the coaching duties on the training ground.

The former Wales captain, capped 66 times, was a tough-tackling midfielder who enjoyed a career at the top level with Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Luton Town, Aberdeen, Chelsea and Watford.

He then moved into coaching and was responsible for producing many first-team players for Crystal Palace through their youth system.

Newport-born Nicholas - a spectator at Swansea's last three home games - was desperate to break into management and accepted the job at ambitious League of Wales club Barry Town in the summer of 2000.

Barry regained the League of Wales title last season after TNS's triumph the previous year and became the first Welsh club to win a Champions League tie in July, beating Shamkir of Azerbaijan.

The Dragons were last night resigned to losing their manager, although they could press for compensation as Nicholas is believed to be at the start of a three-year contract.

New boss 23 years after he was offered job

COLIN Addison will become the new manager of Swansea City today, 23 years after he turned the job down.

The 60-year-old was named as the new manager at a press conference at Vetch Field today and will be joined at the helm by former Wales international Peter Nicholas, who will be his assistant.

Addison takes up the post the day after John Hollins and Alan Curtis ‘parted company', as revealed on the club website, with Swansea City yesterday after three years and two months at the helm.

He comes with an impressive CV with managerial spells at Athletico Madrid, Derby County, Newport County, Celta Vigo and most recently Yeovil Town among the long list of clubs he has had charge of.

And the former Arsenal, Sheffield United, Notts Forest and York player can't wait to get his teeth into the Vetch Field job he turned down back in 1978 before it was handed to John Toshack.

"The then chairman Malcolm Struel offered me the job before Tosh," revealed Addison.

"But I turned it down. It was nothing to do with the club. I was manager at Newport County at the time, I was younger then and decided to stay where I was.

"Tosh took the job and the rest is history," he added.

But he said that after discussions with chairman Mike Lewis he did not take much persuasion to take the manager's position this time.

"I am very excited about the job," he said.

"It's a club with great traditions which has had its moments over the years.

"I am looking forward to the challenge. There is great potential at the club and there are a number of good young players here like Stuart Roberts and Michael Howard."

Addison has been out of league football since leaving Scarborough in 1999 but had great success at non-league Yeovil, taking them to second in the Nationwide Conference last season before chairman John Fry criticised him publicly.

But although he has been out of football for the past few months he says he has kept in touch with the pro game, especially in South Wales.

"Living in Hereford and having friends in this area it's easy to know what's going on," he said.

"I have been in the game a long time and have a lot of experience. That means you know what is going on."

Addison said he was looking forward to building up a good working relationship with Nicholas, who has left Barry Town to take up the No. 2 position at the Vetch.

"I see it as a partnership," he added.

"Peter has had great experience as a player having won 73 caps for Wales.

"He also did a smashing job as manager at Barry.

"He has a good track record as a coach and I am looking forward to working together with him."

Addison cut his teeth as player/manager at Hereford United and is probably best remembered for steering his side to a famous FA Cup win over Newcastle United in 1972.

He says that 29 years later he still has the same appetite for the game as he did then.

"If I didn't have the drive and the ambition then I would not still be involved in the game," he said.

"There is a lot of talent at this football club and hopefully we can release it."

Addison and Nicholas have 24 hours before their first game in charge against Halifax Town at the Vetch Saturday afternoon.

He refused to make predictions about how things would go but said he knew it would not be easy.

"I am not the sort of manager to go shooting his mouth off," he said.

"If I start making predictions that will only put pressure on me and there is enough pressure in football already without making it any harder.

"We will both have to look at things and then make our own decisions.

"I have been involved in the Third Division in the past couple of years and I know how hard it is but I am looking forward to the challenge."

Addison paid tribute to Hollins and Curtis saying that the duo had done a good job during their time at the club.

"I know John and Alan and I feel for them because it has happened to me," he said.

"I was here when they led the team to the FA Cup win over West Ham and that was great.

"They also did superbly to win the championship.

"I just wish them well in the future."


Factfile

Name: Colin Addison
Born: May 18, 1940
Place of birth: Taunton, Somerset
Playing career: York City — 1957-61, Nottingham Forest 1961-66, Arsenal — 1966-67, Sheffield United 1967-71, Hereford United (player/manager) — 1971-74.

Managerial Career: Hereford (see playing career) and 1990-91, Durban City (South Africa) — 1975-76, Notts County — 1976-77, Newport County 1978-79 and 1982-85, West Bromwich Albion (asst manager) 1979-80 and 1987-88, Derby County — 1980-82, El Ali (Qatar) 1985-86, Celta Vigo (Spain) — 1986-87, Athletico Madrid (Spain) —
1988-89, Cadiz (Spain) — 1989-1990, Al Arabi (Kuwait) — 1992-93, Badajoz (Spain) — 1995-96, Merthyr Tydfil 1996-98, Scarborough — 1999-2000, Yeovil Town — 2000-2001.

ALAN Curtis took the news of his sacking from Swansea with all the dignity he has displayed throughout his career in footbball both as a player and in management.

Curtis, who confirmed that both he and John Hollins were told about the sackings yesterday afternoon by the club's board members, said that he would never criticise the club despite his obvious disappointment.

The former assistant manager said he was aware that speculation had been rife about his own future at the club as well as Hollins.

"There had been a lot of talk," he said.

"But when the board meeting was called yesterday we were told it was a meeting just to bring people at the club up to date with the current situation regarding investors.

"John was summoned first and came out a couple of minutes later to say he had been sacked. I was called in and it was obvious what the news would be to me.It seemed obvious that a couple of other people had been brought in and they wanted to make a clean start.

"To be fair to the club it would probably have been impossible for me to work with the new management team."

Curtis said he understood why the club had made the decision to go for a new team but took the decision on the chin despite his obvious disappointment.

"Perhaps it was time for a change," he admitted.

"We have been here three years and maybe that was enough time for myself and John.

"It might be the time to bring in a bit more quality and whoever takes over I wish them all the best.

"If they want any advice then I would be willing to give it, but I expect they will want to make a clean start."

Curtis bowed out of the Vetch with dignity and said that he had enjoyed his long association with the club on and off the field.

"I have loved every minute of it," he said. "This club has been a big part of my life and I hope people realise there has never been a harder worker as far as Swansea City is concerned.

"I could never criticise the club because I love it. I have said that this team of players could only get better and I am sure it will. I wish them all the best for the future."

Swansea manager John Hollins and his assistant Alan Curtis have parted company with the Third Division club.

Hollins took charge in July 1998 but could not prevent the cash-strapped club being relegated from the Second Division last season.

The Swans have managed to win only once since the opening day of the current campaign and went down 3-1 at Plymouth last night.

Swansea will be holding a press conference at the Vetch Field at 9.30am on Thursday to announce the new management team.

Colin Addison will take over at Swansea City

Former Atletico Madrid boss Colin Addison will be unveiled as the new manager of Swansea City on Thursday morning. Addison takes over from John Hollins, who was dismissed on Wednesday along with assistant Alan Curtis after three seasons in the job.

It is expected that Addison will have Peter Nicholas, currently boss of League of Wales champions Barry Town, as his number two at the Vetch.

Addison has a rich and varied managerial career including spells in Spain and Kuwait.

His last job in the Football League was at Scarborough when he failed to save the Yorkshire club from relegation to the Conference two years ago.

He led non-league Hereford to one of the great FA Cup giantkillings against Newcastle in the 1970s, and enjoyed a successful spell with Derby County.

In Wales, he is best known for his time with Newport County and Merthyr but spent last season guiding Yeovil to second place in the Nationwide Conference.

Peter Nicholas is expected to move from Barry

Former Chelsea and England international midfielder Hollins took over at the Vetch prior to the 1998/99 season.

Swansea beat Premiership club West Ham United in the third round of the FA Cup that season, while also making it into the promotion play-offs before losing to Scunthorpe United.

Hollins led the Swans to the Division Three title the following season, but they were relegated last year as the team struggled to get to grips with Division Two.

The Swans sit in mid-table after starting the season with two wins, two draws and two defeats, the latest of which was a 3-1 loss at Plymouth on Tuesday night.

Bad start

Former Swansea and Wales striker Ian Walsh said he was surprised at the departures of Hollins and Curtis.

"If there was going to be change I would have thought it would have happened before the season.

"What people forget is that the last time Swansea went up, they made a bad start to the season.

"Anyone that comes in will have no money to deal with. So it will be very difficult for any new manager to come in there and turn things around.

"I'm surprised, but then nothing surprises me any more after what has gone on there the last 18 months."

ENRAGED Swansea City boss John Hollins blasted referee Phil Prosser after seeing his side thumped 3-1 by Plymouth last night.

In a disastrous game, loan-signing Nathan Tyson was carried off with a serious-looking knee injury after he was clattered by home goalkeeper Romain Larrieu while Nick Cusack needed six stitches to a facial cut.

Gareth Phillips also picked up a head injury as sluggish Swansea were outplayed by Paul Sturrock's slick side.

Plymouth, who were without a home win this season, took the lead from the penalty spot after Kris O'Leary was adjudged to have brought down Mickey Evans midway through the first half.

Nicky Banger doubled the lead just before the break, then Martin Phillips sneaked in for a third.

Frenchman Mamady Sidibe grabbed his second league goal for Swansea near the end, but it was scant consolation for Hollins. "I thought some of the referee's decisions were appalling," he seethed.

"The penalty should never have been. Kris O'Leary did not even have his hands on their player and he fell over.

"That sets any team off, and by the way the free-kick which led to the third goal should not have been given either.

"Gareth Phillips had already made three challenges which were just the same and the referee did nothing."

Hollins added: "But what incensed me was the tackle on Nathan Tyson. He was going through, the ball had gone and the keeper went straight through him.

"Chris Todd came on and got booked for his first challenge, then took an elbow in his chops which the ref didn't even see.

"Nick Cusack went for a ball and their guy came in and nutted him. He needed six stitches in his head and looked a bit hazy.

"Apart from that it was a good night."

Tyson left Home Park on crutches and if his knee problem is serious he could be on his way back to Reading having featured in just two games for Swansea.

Striker Steve Watkin is still some way from fitness, so Hollins would have another attacking gap to plug.

Skipper Cusack, who came on as a substitute last night after recovering from a hamstring strain, could be ruled out for a fortnight with concussion.

"All these things are sent to test us," said Hollins. "But we have got enough players, I think. We are still alive and we are raring to go at home against Halifax on Saturday."

Plymouth Argyle moved up to eighth in Division Three with a win over Swansea. Argyle's victory against their Welsh visitors was the first home win for the Greens and came after a stylish first-half performance as they went two goals in front.

Argyle took a 14th-minute lead through stand-in skipper Paul Wooton from the penalty spot after striker Micky Evans had been fouled by marker Kris O'Leary.

Nicky Banger, making his first start after joining Plymouth on a three-month contract, increased the home side's lead just before half time.

A superb cross from man-of-the-match Martin Phillips was headed on by Banger and into the far corner.

Phillips capped his man-of-the-match performance in the 61st minute when he finished from close range after Evans had headed on Wooton's free-kick.

Swansea countered in the 79th minute when French forward Mamady Sidibe pounced on a mistake in the home defence to drill the ball home past Plymouth keeper Romain Larrieu.

Sidibe missed a golden opportunity to double his tally a minute later when he was left unmarked to glance a Matthew Bound cross from the left just wide.

Swansea recorded their first home win of the season against Exeter on Saturday to move into the top half of the Third Division table, success at Home Park would see them rise to joint fourth.

And Curtis believes keeping up with the division's early pacesetters is particularly important.

"It's always nice to be in touch with the leaders and I think especially so this season," he said.

"With the present climate at the club, results and a good league position are important so we generate good feeling among fans and therefore attract bigger crowds to the Vetch."

Despite the 4-2 scoreline, Curtis echoed manager John Hollins's disappointment with certain aspects of Saturday's display.

"It was a little bit frustrating because we could and should have won convincingly.

"We should have been more clinical and then we conceded the usual daft late goal which meant a nervous couple of minutes near the end."

Hollins could recall skipper Nick Cusack, who will travel with the squad but faces a fitness test having missed Saturday's match with a hamstring strain. Otherwise, Swansea are likely to field an unchanged team.

Against the division's bottom club, Swansea managed four goals for only the fourth time in Hollins's reign.

And for Curtis, the prospect of watching the same side on the attack tonight is an attractive one.

"What I like about us at the moment is that we are pacy going forward," he said. "We have some genuinely quick players and I love to see that, but they must take the chances to finish games off"

Plymouth will be without injured skipper Craig Taylor, but will give former Southampton frontman Nicky Banger a first start.

The game is all-ticket for Swansea supporters.

Birmingham, who are interested in Stuart Roberts, are set to sign former Swansea and Wales defender Steve Jenkins from Huddersfield.

Plymouth : from Larrieu, Banger, Worrell, Wotton, Coughlan, Beswetherick, Phillips, Adams, Friio, Hodges, Stonebridge, Evans, McGlinchey, Wills, Broad, McCormick, Gritton.

Swansea : from Freestone, Jenkins, Howard, Bound, Mazzina, Coates, Phillips, O'Leary, Sidibe, Tyson, Roberts, Cusack, Jones, Romo, Appleby, Todd, De-Vulgt, Williams, Appleby.

MIKE Lewis has told Birmingham boss Trevor Francis he can watch Stuart Roberts at Vetch Field after turning down his request to take the winger on trial.

Roberts has attracted interest from the First Division side after a stunning start to the season which has brought him to goals.

Lewis said he would not stand in the youngster's way regarding his career but insisted that he could not leave for a trail with the Midlands club at this present time.

"Stuart is on a week-to-week contract at present and as such, he is his own master," said Lewis.

"He can decide whether or not to go anywhere on trial.

"At present, he understands the situation, that with games coming thick and fast, it will be difficult for anything to happen.

Lewis said the club had gone as far as a new contract was concerned for the Llanelli-born 21-year-old.

"There is a contract still on the table, although we appreciate as a club, its not what he wants," he said.

"However, the stark reality is, we have a squad of 27 players here, which is five more than we said we wanted to get it down to, so there is no more money in the pot, so to speak.

"We have already said that we will consider any realistic offer.

"As far as Birmingham City are concerned, we feel it would be far better for them to come and watch Stuart in action and assess his abilities from that rather than dragging him away from us for a while.

"That is a situation that causes upheaval but ultimately might lead to nothing."

Plymouth Argyle are set to give new striker Nicky Banger his first start for the Pilgrims at home to Swansea City. Argyle boss Paul Sturrock may also recall Brian McGlinchey as he bids to kick-start the Greens' home form.

Sturrock said: "We had magic support at Torquay but there are another 3,000 waiting for us to do something at home."

Swansea striker Nick Cusack may return after recovering from a hamstring strain.

And there is further good news on the horizon after Ryan Casey made a return to action for the first time since January. The 22-year-old midfielder suffered a broken ankle and medial ligament damage in January against Reading.

But he came through a reserve team game against Porthcawl Town unscathed and is almost back in contention for a first team place.

Jason Smith (ankle ligaments), Damien Lacey (heel) and Steve Watkin (knee ligaments) all remain sidelined.

JOHN Cornforth believes "his team" Swansea City have what it takes to make a mark in Division Three after seeing them beat Exeter 4-2 on Saturday.

Grecians assistant manager Cornforth, who played at the Vetch from 1991 to 1996, was disappointed to see Exeter slump to their fourth defeat of the season after taking the lead.

But the 33-year-old former Swans skipper felt the result promised much for his old club.

"Everyone knows I class Swansea as my team so hopefully this win will kick-start them and send them towards good things," he said.

"I thought they looked a little bit tense, perhaps because they have not started the season as they would have wanted to.

"There's a lot of pace and a lot of height in the team and although there are many good sides in the Third Division, I don't see why they can't do well."

And Cornforth, captain of Swansea when they won the Autoglass Trophy in 1994, reserved special praise for Llanelli-born winger Stuart Roberts.

"I thought Robbo was superb, coming inside and bringing people into play. Plus he took his goal well.

"Since I left the club he has come on leaps and bounds. He is a very, very good player."

Christian Roberts gave struggling Exeter an early lead before a flurry of Swansea goals made it 3-1 to the home side at half-time.

Barrie McConnell renewed the visitors' hopes near the end but John Williams's injury-time drive sealed their fate.

"I thought we were very sharp in the first 25 minutes but then it was the same old story, conceding a goal and then two more within a moment," added Cornforth.

"When you come to places like Swansea, you can't afford to do that."

IF we can play badly and win, if we can play badly and score four goals . . . John Hollins must be thinking what might be after Saturday's victory over Exeter City.

Swansea City ran out 4-2 winners against Noel Blake's plucky side for a first success at Vetch Field this season.

But if it sounds like a comfortable afternoon in the hazy September sun, it was not.

Victory was not assured until substitute John Williams raced away from the tired visiting defence to drive the ball emphatically past goalkeeper Andy Walker in injury-time.

Before that, the home support were praying for the final whistle, fearing a repeat of Cheltenham's last-minute leveller in Swansea's previous home game.

There need not have been a nervous end, had Swansea finished more accurately and kept concentrating at the back throughout the 90 minutes.

Jonathan Coates, Mamady Sidibe and debutant Nathan Tyson all had good scoring opportunities but failed to find the target.

At the other end, with five minutes remaining and the score at 3-1, Swansea's defence dozed off and allowed Exeter to bring the contest back to life.

From a free-kick, Grecians midfielder Barry McConnell was left unmarked at the back post and headed past Roger Freestone.

"I shall be having a few words about defence at training before the Plymouth game," said Hollins, clearly not satisfied despite taking three points.

"At 4-2 it was comfortable, but at 3-2 with a few minutes left it was very uncomfortable. Getting into that situation was completely and utterly unnecessary.

"The win should have been dead and buried well before John Williams came on and showed the rest of the players how to finish.

"But once we went 3-1 up it seemed we either do not like scoring goals or no one wants to take the responsibility to score goals.

"We could have had five or six, the opportunities were there. I want to bury teams."

Swansea were not at the their best, never moving the ball around as crisply as they did in the first-half against Cheltenham.Indeed, they fell behind to an early goal by the Nationwide League's bottom club after a sluggish start.

Pacy former Cardiff striker Christian Roberts twisted and turned past Matthew Bound before firing across Freestone and inside the far post.

But by half-time, Hollins's men had somehow turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead.

First Kris O'Leary angled a header over 19-year-old Walker — who was making his debut after Arjan Van Heusden injured himself in the warm-up — from Stuart Roberts's corner.

Shortly afterwards came the best of the game's six goals. Argentinian Nicolas Mazzina gave a glimpse of what he is capable of, whipping a fine cross in from the left touchline.

As the ball hung in the air, 5ft 8in Roberts sprang up at the back post and headed accurately into the top corner.

The 21-year-old's finish was top class and capped another fine performance, which was most impressive for his pinpoint crossing.

Hollins must be wishing Roberts would sign a new Vetch deal, but on this form it surely will not be long before he is plucked away by a bigger club.

With the North Bank still saluting Swansea's second goal, the unpredictable Sidibe embarked on a direct run and won a penalty when challenged by Graeme Power just inside the box.

The decision was by no means clear cut, not that stand-in skipper Matthew Bound was bothered — stepping up to smash home his second spot-kick of the season.

Exeter did not know what had hit them, and it was the three-goal, 13-minute spell before the interval which won the game for Swansea.

They were never as potent after the break and the relief when Williams struck in injury-time was tangible.

At the third attempt, the first home victory of the season was completed and put Swansea's Division Three campaign back on track.

With one defeat in five league matches, they sit in 11th place with eight points.

But pace-setters Rochdale already have 16 and Hollins's side now need to build on this win with a run of victories to move them up into the top six.

To do that, they must improve on Saturday's display.

Four goals and three points may sound pretty good, but Exeter, a club with a big financial problems and without a win this season, could have snatched a point.

Apart from their first-half goal rush, Swansea often disappointed in an unconvincing win.

And against the division's stronger sides, sterner defence and more finishing like Williams's late strike will be required if they are to continue to climb the table.

AT any time, Swansea City could lose Stuart Roberts, man-of-the-match for the second game running, against Exeter City on Saturday,

Manager John Hollins is resigned to the fact that a bigger club could come in for the £250,000-rated Wales Under-21 winger who is on a week-to-week contract.

'There's not much we can do really in the position we are in financially,' he said after the 4-2 Vetch Field victory.

'The way I read the situation, we have made Stuart an offer nowhere near what he was offered before.

'As far as I know that contract is still there but I would think it's of no interest to Stuart because it's not what he wants.

'He is supposedly going off on trial for somebody (an earlier trial with Rotherham came to nothing).

'We have games coming up Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday and as far as I am concerned Stuart will remain with us until something can be done.

'But the situation is not with us, it's with Stuart. If someone comes in and buys the club, things might change.

'Until then, there are no more moves, as far as I can see, to increase somebody's contract, go out and buy someone or do anything else.

'We have got what we have got. I was able to sign a player (Nathan Tyson) on loan because we desperately needed a forward.

'But I don't think we are going to borrow anybody else unless we have an unbelievable injury situation.

'That's the Bosman ruling (as it relates to Roberts) and the situation the club is in.

'I can't do anything about it. My hands are tied. I would rather talk about things I can do, like training the players, working with them every day and trying to win games.

'We have taken a good young player on loan. Nathan Tyson is not the strongest of strikers. But he's very quick and has a good touch.

'Hopefully he and Big Mama (giant forward Mamady Sidibe) will start scoring goals.

'I'm pleased with Big Mama but he needs a goal so that he think more about his next chance rather than snatch at it.

Hollins is encouraged by the progress of Welsh youngsters Gareth Phillips and Lee Jenkins.

'Gazza (Phillips) has frightening potential. Against Exeter he covered every blade of grass and tackled everybody, no matter how big or small.

'He also passes the ball well and it would have been the complete midfield performance had he taken his goal chance. He will get better and better as he gains in experience.

'Lee has slotted in well at right-back since coming back from injury and Kris O'Leary is another emerging young Welsh player.'

'But when you aren't taking full advantage of the chances being created it does start to get a bit edgy for the team.

'I want to be in a position to bring on players who don't have the opportunity to play because there is no reserve league.'

Captain Nick Cusack was ruled out of the Exeter match with a hamstring injury which makes him doubtful for tomorrow night's game at Plymouth,

Swansea City hit back strongly after they had fallen behind to a 13th minute goal by Exeter's former Cardiff City striker Christian Roberts.

Roberts ran on to a cross-field pass from Geoff Breslan and rounded Matthew Bound on the edge of the penalty area before shooting into the far corner.

But Swansea were back on terms just 11 minutes later when central defender Kristian O'Leary came upfield for a Stuart Roberts corner and glanced his header over the line after goalkeeper Andy Walker had failed to collect.

The Swans then hit two goals in a minute to take a firm grip on the match.

Roberts, unmarked beyond the far post, met a cross from Nicolas Mazzina with a powerful header in the 35th minute and a minute later, Bound netted from the spot after Mamady Sidibe had been brought down by Mark Burrows.

H-T: Swansea City 3, Exeter City 1

The Swans did not have things as much their own way as they had in the second half and they were given a few nasty minutes towards the end of the match when Barry McConnell netted with a header from a long throw by substitute Chris Curran.

But it was another substitute Swansea's John Williams, who had the last word, powering his way through the middle and hitting a glorious shot past Walker from the edge of the area with just a minute remaining.