Mansfield boss Billy Dearden will welcome back midfielder Martin Pemberton for the home encounter with Swansea.

Pemberton has missed the last three games through suspension but his availability is a big boost for the Stags, who have "one or two knocks".

Dearden, whose side drew 1-1 with York last Friday, admits he will not be able to finalise his starting line-up until the day of the clash and is expecting a difficult game.

He said: "They are a big side and it will be tough, but we have a good record at home."

Same squad

Meanwhile, Swansea manager Colin Addison will keep faith with the squad which has lost only one of their last five games.

Full-back Michael Howard has recovered from a niggling thigh injury, but has only been back in training for a few days.

And he is unlikely to force the in-form Steve Evans from the starting line-up.

Kristian O'Leary and Damien Lacey both play their final games before beginning three-match bans, while striker Steve Brodie will be hoping to retain his place.

SQUADS
Swansea : from Freestone, S Evans, T Evans, Bound, Smith, O'Leary, Coates, Lacey, Cusack, Williams, Sidibe, Brodie, Jones, Howard, Todd, Sharp, Phillips, Watkin.

Mansfield : from Pilkington, Hassell, Robinson, Reddington, Tankard, Lawrence, Disley, Williamson, Corden, Piper, Greenacre, Bingham, Asher, Pemberton, Bradley, White.

SWANSEA City's mini-Third Division revival has suffered a hammer blow with the news that Mamady Sidibe could be sold to balance the books.

I understand there has been interest in the 6ft 4in top scorer from a Premiership club and another from the First Division since his five-star display against Queens Park Rangers in front of the Sky television cameras nearly two weeks ago.

And with Swansea chairman Tony Petty in need of a cash injection after paying out £100,000 as a result of last week's court conflict with former director Mel Nurse, the big Frenchman may be allowed to go.

"There has been a lot of interest in Sidibe in the last couple of weeks," admitted boss Colin Addison.

"We have received offers for the boy and I cannot say they have been rejected."

Addison would not divulge the clubs concerned or the sums involved, but the loss of crowd favourite Sidibe would leave another hole in his squad.

Since signing on a free transfer in the summer, the former CA Paris frontman has netted six times in 15 appearances.

Having already lost one top scorer this season in Stuart Roberts, Sidibe's departure would leave Swansea lacking firepower.

"We are steadily making progress and young Sidibe has played a part in our revival,"added Addison.

"We are looking to build something here and we do not want to sell our best players, but we are trying to balance books."

Despite the transfer talk, Sidibe is included in Swansea's 18-man squad for tomorrow's visit to high-flying Mansfield Town (3pm).

The biggest threat at Field Mill is likely to be 15-goal striker Chris Greenacre, a man Addison knows well.

"It's another big game for us as they are a good side with a great home record.

"I had Greenacre on loan from Manchester City when I was at Scarborough and he is one to watch.

"He can score a goal, he has got good pace and there's plenty more to come from him. He's very promising."

Swansea welcome back Michael Howard after nearly a month on the sidelines with a bruised thigh.

Also back is new Professional Footballers' Association chairman Nick Cusack, who missed last Friday's home defeat by Hartlepool with a thigh strain.

Mansfield will be without central defender Adam Barrett (ankle) and young striker Danny Bacon (hip).

SWANSEA CITY manager Colin Addison is hoping to extend Wales Under-21 defender Stephen Evans's loan spell at the Vetch.

Blackwood-born Evans joined the Swans on a month's loan from Crystal Palace on November 8 and, because his registration wasn't completed until the following day, is eligible to play in the FA Cup second-round tie at Macclesfield on December 8.

But Addison said last night he was confident that the First Division club would allow the 21-year-old defender to spend a second month at the Vetch Field.

"We're certainly keen to hang on to Stephen for another month - possibly longer - and I've spoken to Steve Kember (Palace caretaker-manager) about it," he said.

"Steve (Kember) has one or two injury problems at the moment and he wants to make sure he has enough cover, which is fair enough.

But he hasn't ruled out the possibility of us taking Stephen for at least another month.

"He's a quality player who has done well since coming into the side. Let's hope we can hang on to him."

Palace, however, are expected to name their new manager today -

Trevor Francis is the favourite - and that could throw a spanner in the Swansea works to keep the player.

Evans, who made his Swans debut in the 2-1 win at Torquay, said he was relishing the opportunity of first-team football having struggled to claim a regular place at Palace during his five years at Selhurst Park.

"I've been on the fringes, but haven't really made it into the side apart from six appearances under Steve Coppell," said Evans, who missed the whole of last season with a knee injury that needed two operations.

"It's frustrating when you're not getting into the first team, but I've got the chance to do that back in Wales and I'm enjoying it.

"I know that Colin has spoken to Palace about extending my loan spell and I'd definitely be interested in staying for another month.

"But I'm not sure what I'd do if Swansea wanted to offer me a permanent deal. I'd have to think very hard about whether I wanted to move from London back to Wales."

With former Birmingham City manager Francis expected to succeed Steve Bruce at Selhurst Park, Evans added, "All I know is what they've been speculating on the television.

"I'm not sure what's going on there. Things are a bit uncertain and perhaps it would be good to spend another month at Swansea and go back to Palace when things have settled down."

SWANSEA City Supporters Trust today called on chairman Tony Petty to give the club back to 'people who care'.

In a statement, sent exclusively to the Evening Post , the Trust, which held its first annual general meeting last week, said that only a '100 per cent transfer of the owner's current shareholding' would suffice and that Petty should hand the club back to the local community as either a 'gift' to the supporters or sale at nominal value, given the original purchase cost of £1.

The Trust doubts that pledged investments will materialise and that the only way the club could survive would be to sell off key members of the playing staff.

That would weaken the team, it continued, and would put the future of the club in serious doubt — either by slipping out of the Football League or going into liquidation.

Having already raised more than £20,000 in the past few months, the Trust was aiming to have representation on the club's board.

It was fully behind Mel Nurse's administration petition which failed last week.

Now it says it cannot negotiate with Petty and urges him to do the right thing.

Meanwhile the club is urging supporters to buy season tickets before Christmas in a statement on the official website.

It reads: "Following on from the recent confirmation that all season-ticket holders were to receive 10,000 free shares in the club, we can now confirm the price for those of you looking to buy a season-ticket now in order to qualify for your shareholding," it reads.

"All season tickets are now half the original asking price, and if bought before the Carlisle game on December 15, gives you three free games. Add this to the share entitlement it'll make a great Christmas present."

NICK Cusack is targeting an extension to his Vetch Field contract after becoming chairman of the Professional Footballers'Association.

The Swansea City skipper has assumed the lead role at the players' union after beating off competition from four other members of its management committee.

A prerequisite of the unpaid job is holding a playing contract in the Premiership or the Nationwide League — hence the retirement of former Wales international Barry Horne, Cusack's predecessor.

So with his current Swansea deal up at the end of the season, 35-year-old Cusack has an added incentive to win a top-up in the summer.

"I am looking for a new five-year deal," joked the veteran midfielder.

"Everyone knows that I would have liked to continue playing anyway and this is a great incentive.

"I feel I can combine the two roles and I will not neglect my duties at Swansea. Hopefully I've got some time left in me yet."

Cusack, Swansea's PFA representative, has sat on the 14-man management committee for the last five years.

When the opportunity to become chairman arose, the politics graduate put his name forward and was elected after a ballot of all committee members.

"Obviously I'm delighted. With the television deal finally settled, this a very big and exciting time for the PFA and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"There is a feeling now that there will be a spirit of co-operation between the PFA and the other football authorities because a mutual respect has developed during the TV money conflict.

"And with funding secured for the next 10 years, the PFA will be putting forward long-term plans and building for generations of footballers to come."

In a decade's time of course, Cusack will no longer be a player and therefore will not be sitting on the PFA's management committee.

He hopes, however, to emulate predecessor Horne when he hangs up his boots by taking up one of the union's full-time roles.

"I feel very strongly about the way the PFA helps players and have learned a lot about the way football is run over the last five years," he added.

"And when I do retire from playing, I would like to stay involved in football administration."

SWANSEA CITY captain Nick Cusack has been voted the new chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and the 35-year-old midfield has vowed his new role will not affect his commitment on the pitch.

Cusack, whose contract at the Vetch expires at the end of this season but is hopeful he will be offered an extension, has replaced former Wales international Barry Horne at the helm of the PFA.

"It's an honour and a privilege to be chairman of the PFA but my first priority is Swansea City. I will not neglect my job for them. I'm confident I can combine the two roles," said Cusack. "I've worked hard on my fitness and I'm always raring to go for the Swans. Although I'm now PFA chairman, I've still got a vitally important job to do for Swansea.

"I enjoy playing football and I want to carry on playing football for Swansea. It's up to me to play well for them. I won't neglect the Swans.

"Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas (Swansea's manager and assistant manager) have been great to me about working for the PFA. They've let me go to all the meetings and I'm not going to let them down."

According to the PFA's constitution, its chairman must hold down a playing contract with a Football League club and Horne had to vacate the position once he was unable to find a new club after leaving Walsall in the summer.

But Cusack, who could see his reign end if the Swans refuse to offer him a new contract next May, is not worried about suffering a similar fate.

"I'm not concerned about a new contract. It's up to me to prove I'm worth a new contract but all I'm interested in is being an effective chairman for the PFA while I'm in the job. I know I can't be chairman if I'm not playing, but I'm not looking at the situation in that way. I believe strongly in the PFA and I want to serve the players effectively."

Cusack, a member of the PFA's management committee for the last five years, was sworn in as chairman at the union's annual general meeting in Manchester last Monday.

"With this new agreement with the TV companies we've now got £17.5m coming in every year for the next 10 years and I'll be working with Gordon Taylor (the PFA's chief executive) on how to spend that money," added Cu-sack. "There was acrimony between the PFA and the football authorities over the television money, but I believe there's now a new spirit of co-operation between us after this dispute.

"There are a number of pressing issues facing us and it's vitally important we spend the money wisely.

"I want to enhance player benefits. When a footballer is forced to retire through injury he gets £15,000 at the moment, but we're looking to increase this to £25,000, perhaps even higher.

"We also believe players shouldn't have to pay for their own boots. It's the case that in the lower division players have to pay for boots - that's the situation at Swansea although this season we got a £75 boot allowance.

"I would also like to see grants enhanced for re-educating and re-training players after they've finished playing."

Cusack, who will be 36 next month and who is also tipped to move into football management, explained, "Be-coming a manager does appeal to me but at the moment I'm concentrating on playing for Swansea."

FORMER Wales striker Dean Saunders has turned down the chance to become the new manager of Merthyr Tydfil.

Martyrs chairman Owen Money approached the former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Benfica striker about replacing John Lewis who resigned after Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Hednesford.

That defeat left the Martyrs last but one in the Dr Martens League Premier Division and staring relegation in the face.

But the 37-year-old Saunders, capped 75 times by Wales and now coaching strikers at Premiership club Blackburn Rovers, has decided to stay at Ewood Park.

"I did phone Dean and I offered him the opportunity to move into management, perhaps as a playermanager," said Money last night.

"But he has just signed a contract with Blackburn and he didn't want to leave the Premiership. It's a long way down to the Dr Martens League.

"I thought Dean would have gone for it, especially with the new development on the horizon and a new stadium which we hope will be ready in five years time.

"This football club is an opportunity for somebody. I'm going to talk to quite a few people about it but I'm not going to rush into a decision."

In the frame for the Merthyr job are Cardiff City goalkeeping coach George Wood, ex-Swansea City assistant manager Alan Curtis, former Wales and Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall and ex-Wales star and Llanelli manager Leighton James.

Merthyr defender Mark Williams will take charge of team affairs until Lewis's successor is appointed.

Martyrs chairman Money said he was disappointed Lewis decided to throw in the towel after losing at Hednesford Town.

Since Lewis arrived at Penydarren Park in the summer Merthyr have won only three of their 17 matches and the former Cardiff and Newport County player announced his resignation just minutes after Saturday's defeat.

"Results have been awful but John's job was never under threat," said comedian and radio personality Money.

"If we went down then John Lewis would have gone down with us and I'm sure we would have gone back up next year.

"I think John was one of the hard-est-working managers I've ever been involved with. I have nothing but admiration for him.

"John obviously felt he couldn't do any more and when he phoned me on Saturday night to tell me his decision I was devastated.

"We've just got to get on with things. It has been a real slog since I arrived at the club.

"I've been here three years and the only highlight has been beating Cardiff in the FAW Premier Cup last season."

Swansea City's FA Cup hopes have received a double blow with the news that Kris O'Leary and Damian Lacey will miss the second round on December 8 through suspension.

Both players have been handed three-match bans, O'Leary because his red card last Friday night was his third this season and Lacey because he walked at York for violent conduct.

Plans to appeal against Lacey's dismissal were scuppered when video footage of the midfielder's clash with York skipper Chris Brass proved inconclusive.

As well as the FA Cup tie at Macclesfield or Forest Green — they replay tomorrow — O'Leary and Lacey will miss Carlisle's visit to the Vetch.

They will also be absent when Bristol Rovers visit unless there is a cup replay, in which case they will miss that.

Meanwhile winger Richie Appleby is on the verge of completing a permanent switch to Kidderminster.

The 26-year-old Teessider has impressed manager Jan Molby since moving to Aggborough on a month's loan on November 9.

And with Swansea boss Colin Addison looking to trim the size of his squad, he seems likely to leave Vetch Field on a free transfer.

"I have had a brief chat with Lionel Newton (Kidderminster's chairman) and there is a possibility that Richie will move," said Addison.

Fellow Swan Michael Keegan, meanwhile, could be in line for a loan spell at Kidderminster.

The 20-year-old midfielder has spent the last fortnight on trial and Molby is considering offering him a one-month deal.

"They contacted me regarding a permanent contract for Richie," explained Addison. "Michael could be the same or more likely he will go on loan so they can have a longer look at him.

"I will speak to Jan later this week to sort out both players' futures. We do need to make cuts."

Swansea skipper Nick Cusack has been confirmed as the new chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association, taking over from Barry Horne.

Cusack was on the union's national executive committee.

Seats are still available for Swansea's trip to Mansfield on Saturday with Amman Sports Tours. The price is £16 and to buy tickets call 01269 826652 or 07855 380499.

TONY PETTY yesterday lodged the £100,000 needed to win control of Swansea City as fans insisted that protests against his reign would continue.

But former Swansea City chairman Mike Lewis last night urged supporters to get behind his successor after Petty came up with the money to win his ownership battle with Mel Nurse.

Petty, who took over the club from Lewis six weeks ago, had until

4.30pm yesterday to lodge the money at Swansea County Court so he could dismiss ex-Swans director Nurse's petition to force the club into administration.

Nurse became the club's biggest creditor after buying previous owner Ninth Floor plc's £800,000 debt for £100,000 last month and he tried to wrest control from Petty.

But the Australia-based businessman secured his future at the Vetch Field after paying in the money an hour before the deadline.

"I think it's time the fans drew a line in the sand with Tony Petty and gave him a break," said Lewis.

"Some of the abuse he's had has gone beyond the pale. Tony has made one or two errors since taking control of the club and he has admitted that.

"But the man has got energy, vitality and a desire to win as all those in court last week saw."

London-born Petty, who needed a police escort to leave the Vetch after the game against Rushden & Diamonds earlier this month, watched last Friday's home game against Hartlepool in the secure surroundings of the Vetch's television box.

"I find it very sad that he flies 12,000 miles from the other side of the world and can't sit in his own directors' box to watch a match because he doesn't feel safe," added Lewis.

"The club was not in good shape when I bought it from Ninth Floor. It has gone from one owner to another this year, a bit like passing around a hot potato.

"The easiest thing Tony Petty could have done in the last few weeks would have been to walk away, but he hasn't.

"The fans ought to realise what he has done at the Vetch. If I was still chairman the playing squad would be 23 or 24, but under Tony it's 30 because he wants Colin Addison (Swans manager) to work with the players he needs.

"He has also cut back the losses the club was making. A loss of £900,000 was forecast this season but Tony has already slashed that by a third.

"I've been on the receiving end of the cutbacks, so has Martin Burgess (ex-finance director) and the new play-ers have come in on realistic wages.

"I know how passionate Swansea fans are, but everyone in the city should now work together to try and get the club out of the Third Division."

Marilyn Croft, a spokesperson for Swansea City Supporters' Trust, which has more than 1,200 members, said fans would never accept Petty.

"As far as we're concerned, this is a black day for the whole of Swansea," she said.

"It comes as a shock because we were confident Mel would succeed.

"That would've been marvellous. It could've been the start of a bright future for Swansea City."

"Mel has the interests of the club at heart and he would've involved the Supporters Trust. There is still a lot of anger and people will not be prepared to accept what has happened."

The battle to gain control of Swansea's football team has gone into extra time after the club's new owner won three days' suspension of court action against him.

Tony Petty is still in control of Swansea City Football Club despite the third High Court hearing in the city aimed at ousting him just weeks after he took over.

But he must pay £100,000 into a holding account by Monday 26 November to cover possible future claims by his rival, the former club player and director, Mel Nurse.

The court hearing is the latest turn in events since Mr Petty took control of the side for a nominal £1 and promptly threatened to sack a number of senior players.

Fans have staged demonstrations on the pitch at the Vetch and in Swansea city centre in protest at his management.

But his most serious challenge for the helm has come from Mr Nurse who has snapped up the £800,000 debt of the previous owners with the backing of a consortium of local business people.

And Mr Nurse's petition for an administrator to be appointed to oversee the club's future has led to some of the most spectacular off-pitch scenes yet in the continuing saga of the Division Three side's fortunes.

During the court hearing there were heated exchanges between the counsel for Tony Petty, Stephen Davies QC, and the judge, Mr Justice Thomas.

At one point Mr Davies claimed the judge was "pre-disposed against Mr Petty".

Mr Thomas said that Mr Davies had made a grave allegation against him, suggesting he was biased towards the local takeover bid.

He threatened to adjourn the case and transferr it to Cardiff for a new hearing until Mr Davies withdrew his remarks.

Mr Thomas said it was "a very grave allegation" on Mr Davies's part and "he was not to make such allegations against one of her majesty's judges."

The outcome of the hearing was that the petition for an administrator to be appointed was suspended until Mr Petty's payment is made.

Both sides in the dispute produced evidence that they have sufficient funds to run the club but it is ex-Wales international Mr Nurse, who has a property business in the city, who is seeking court backing to take over the day-to-day running of the team.

He already has the backing of the former financial director of the club, Martin Burgess, the former chairman, Steve Hamer, the overwhelming majority of Swansea City supporters and the cash support of the consortium for his bid.

He says he is acting on sound legal advice and wants only to maintain league football at the Vetch.

Swansea FC is believed to have overall debts of around £1.2m which Mr Petty has pledged to honour.

SWANSEA City manager Colin Addison says it is time for everyone at Vetch Field to concentrate on what's best for the club.

Following the decision at Swansea Civil Justice Centre on Friday when former director Mel Nurse failed in his bid to oust chairman Tony Petty and put the club into administration, Addison said: "It's now finished and over with."

"We have all got to pull together and push on. Swansea City Football Club is bigger than any individual.

"We have got to stay together and start rowing in the same boat.

"On the pitch we are getting there slowly and things are starting to go right now. We have to get together and move on."

Addison saw Kristian O'Leary sent off for the third time his season in the 1-0 home defeat against Hartlepool on Friday night.

"Criticising referees has never been my style and I am not going to start now," said Addison.

"But I do think it was harsh Kris O'Leary is not a dirty player and I wouldn't call him aggressive. I thought his first challenge looked a little inoccuous.

"The second one was a free-kick and that's all. Sadly it's the same player again.

"You can't win those tackles from behind. Kris probably could have stood up a bit longer. But it's just one of those things."