Swansea City chairman Tony Petty has launched a bitter attack against former director and Swans star Mel Nurse as talks for the sale of the club continue.

"The actions of Mel Nurse and his consortium were nothing more than an appalling show of bargain-priced, self-interest." claimed Petty.

"Mel Nurse jumped on the bandwagon and saw his chance of getting the club on the cheap after failing to come up with money in the past," he said.

"The only thing Mel's legal action achieved was to suck any money the club had straight out of the door."

Horrific abuse

Lawyers for the Australian-based businessman are negotiating the takeover terms with property developers Mel Griffin and Jim Moore, with a deal likely early next week.

In a statement on SwanseaCity.net, Petty also criticises the level of the supporters' criticism of him.

"I can honestly say that I have never, in all my life, witnessed the type of horrific abuse that has been aimed at me during my time as chairman of Swansea City.

"This abuse was by people who apparently thought they had the best interests of the club at heart.

Safe hands

"The only thing they succeeded in doing was to frighten off the investment I had lined up for Swansea City."

But he adds: "When I took over the club my priority was to reduce the club's outgoings and losses.

"The way I tried to do it was not the right way and I've now apologised for this and admitted my error time and time again. Nevertheless, I continued to hold the club together,.

"After everything that's happened. and all the self-defeating abuse, I have continued to do what is best for the club and that is to make sure it is passed into safe hands."

Swansea manager Colin Addison will have to wait until the results of late fitness tests on two players before naming his squad to face Macclesfield at the Vetch Field.

Neil Sharp is recovering from a slight ankle injury and Steve Brodie has aggravated a hamstring, so both players will have to undergo fitness checks.

The Swans will be looking for revenge against Macclesfield, who dumped them out of the FA Cup 4-1 in December. Macclesfield goalkeeper Steve Wilson is losing his race against time to be fit for the trip to Swansea.

Wilson hobbled off during last weekend's game against Rochdale with a knee injury and manager Dave Moss feels he will only be ready to make the bench at Vetch Field.

Kevin Keen returns to the side though after completing a suspension and defender Dave Ridler is back in the squad after recovering from a virus.

Midfielder Jeff Smith (knee) is rated as extremely doubtful for the game and Steve Hitchen (hamstring) and Richard Tracey (hamstring) are both three weeks away from fitness.

As talks continue over the future of Swansea City, former chairman Mike Lewis has admitted he was wrong to sell the club to Tony Petty.

After Lewis handed the reins of the club over to Petty for £1, the Australian businessman implemented a series of wage cuts and reduced contracts.

That set the fans against Petty, and the relationship has never recovered.

Now, with the consortium of Mel Griffin and Jim Moore poised to form a new regime, Lewis says he was wrong to sell to Petty - but there was no other option.

"In hindsight, mistakes were made. I am full of regrets about that, but there was no-one else waiting in the wings," he said.

"Mr Petty convinced me, to a point, that he had the ability to run the club as he had done such good things in Australian soccer.

"It's about the right time because the Swansea public are sick and tired about his name being associated with the club and, likewise, he must be sick and tired of all the abuse.

"He started off on the wrong foot and the fans never forgave him."

Lewis, who still advises the club on their proposed move to the Morfa Stadium, believes Griffin and Moore should be given local support.

"If they buy the club and pass it on, it must be to the benefit of the club and to secure it, and those people must have the experience of running a football club and the financial backing."

If the takeover doesn't happen, then Lewis has admitted he may yet be involved again.

"One of the terms of the deal was compensation, over a period of time, and that hasn't been honoured," he said.

"So, I am questioning whether the deal was valid because of the condition of sale."

But the signs are that the deal will go ahead, with Petty's lawyers due to meet Moore and Griffin on Friday.

The latest consortium interested in taking over Swansea City hope to finalise a deal by the weekend.

Jim Moore, who together with property developer Mel Griffin is putting together a bid for the Vetch Field, told BBC Radio Wales that he thought Friday would be D-day for the venture.

"We hope to be in a position to announce something by Friday," said Moore. "There will be meetings all week."

Griffin and Moore were part of a consortium that took over at Hull City last season, and have seen the Tigers go from strength to strength.

Now they want to repeat the formula at Swansea, and take the club off the hands of much-derided chairman Tony Petty.

Morfa move

"The Hull model was that they are moving to a new super-stadium. We purchased the old stadium and helped unlock some of the frustrations surrounding the management at the time," said Moore.

"I think some similar things exist in Swansea and I would like to think that an opportunity will arise in that direction.

"Our investors are prepared to put up some money to assist in helping the club on the basis that that might happen."

With the Swans poised to the Morfa Stadium, Moore and his consortium can see plenty of property opportunities at the Vetch - but will leave the football side to local people.

Very careful

"We will be working with them, and they will be making the decisions as regards to the football club," he said, refusing to name the people involved.

"At Hull, we said we wanted to work with people who had the funding behind them and the management capability to put the club back where it belonged, as well as working with the fans.

"That seems to have happened, and we would like to think the same can happen in Swansea.

"We will be very careful in picking our partners in this and we will be working to the same criteria."

IF Wycombe Wanderers beat Cardiff City in their Division Two clash at Adams Park tomorrow then no player will savour that victory more than Stuart Roberts.

Those who know the Wales Under-21 winger know that he is a former Swansea City player - and also a lifelong Swans supporter.

"I'll be going back to Swansea to see my old team-mates after the Cardiff game and I'll get some stick if we've lost," said Carmarthen-born Roberts, who the Swans sold to Wycombe for a bargain £100,000 last October.

"I would have loved to have beaten Cardiff in a Swansea shirt but it will still be nice to beat them wearing a Wycombe one."

With Wycombe ninth and City 12th, both sides need the points to keep their promotion ambitions simmering.

Added Roberts, "When I signed for Wycombe this was the fixture I was looking forward to most of all - January 19, Cardiff City at home.

"A lot of Swansea fans will be rooting for me. This will be a difficult game for us. Cardiff are a good team as they showed against Leeds a couple of weeks ago.

The Wycombe players know they're in for a tough game."

Swans chairman Tony Petty sold Roberts to bring in much-needed cash into the Vetch coffers - but this week the sale was described as "a farce" by former Swansea chairman Mike Lewis who believes the club should have got £250,000 for the player.

"The move has gone well for me. Not long after I joined I started 12 matches in a row and I didn't expect that," continued the winger.

"Was I happy to leave the Vetch? That's a difficult question to answer. Wycombe is a Second Division club and a good club. We're also going for promotion.

"I enjoyed my time at Swansea and I got on great with the fans, but don't forget at the end I was on a week-to-week contract.

"I was on a weekly contract for four months and I had to look after myself.

"If I got injured who knows what would have happened to me. Swansea might have released me and I would have been struggling to find another club. Having a weekly contract was an impossible situation.

"Wycombe offered me a three-year contract and I had to go. I went to a lot of people for advice - Alan Curtis, John Hollins, Nick Cusack and Leighton James. They helped me come to my decision."

Roberts took a swipe at Petty who is expected to hand over the club to the Melvin Griffin-led consortium on Monday.

"I know what has been happening at Swansea because I still keep in touch with some of the supporters as well as some of the players, such as my best friend Andrew Mumford," he said.

"Considering the players haven't been getting paid their results have been superb and if they string a few wins together they can sneak into the play-offs.

"The manager, the players and the supporters deserve better than Tony Petty. The sooner he goes, the better it will be for Swansea City. Let's hope the take-over goes ahead.

"Petty never spoke to me about the Wycombe move. He just told my father he was selling me for £100,000.

"I thought things couldn't get any worse before I left, but they got twice as bad at Christmas when the Swansea players found out they weren't going to get paid. I felt gutted for them."

Roberts left the Vetch just days after Petty dropped the bombshell that seven players had to find new clubs and eight more would be asked to take pay cuts.

"I miss the Swansea supporters, I miss my old team-mates and I miss Swansea Bay. I've just got to get on with it," said Roberts.

"I'm on my own here but that's toughening me up. It's not as if I'm far away up north. My family is only twoand-a-half hours away in Llanelli - and I can pop into London to go shopping.

"I spend most weekends at home with my family and come back to the club on the Monday morning. That's made things a lot easier."

PROPERTY developer Melvin Griffin is expected to take control of Swansea City within the next 24 hours.

Griffin, in Swansea yesterday to discuss the takeover, last night said he had struck a deal with the club's controversial chairman Tony Petty.

And he is confident the financially ailing club will be under new ownership when the Swans welcome Macclesfield to the Vetch on Saturday.

But Griffin, whose company Hull City Investments Limited owns Boothferry Park, Hull City's ground, admitted he has yet to receive the backing of City and County of Swansea Council regarding his scheme to redevelop the Vetch.

The Windsor-based businessman wants to recoup his investment by building residential flats on the Vetch site after the Swans move to the new Morfa Stadium.

But he is heading for a stand-off with the council which insists the land is not for sale.

"I don't see any reason why the deal won't be completed in the next 24 hours," Griffin told The Western Mail last night.

"I would say there is a 75 per cent chance we will be in control by Saturday.

"I'm very optimistic about things - more optimistic than I've ever been before. I think come Thursday or Friday night the Swansea fans will be very happy - and hopefully there will be 8,000 fans for the Macclesfield game."

Griffin's takeover plan looked to have stalled after Petty insisted he retain almost a third of his 99.15 per cent controlling stake in the club.

But Griffin, who twice spoke to Petty yesterday, added, "He (Petty) has changed his mind and he has accepted our offer. We are now waiting to speak to his lawyer.

"I told Tony Petty that our investors wouldn't stomach him having a one per cent share and he has accepted that.

"I don't think he was happy about it but he hasn't got any choice. I told him to forget about pride. He had an opportunity and unfortunately it went badly for him.

But Griffin warned, "If something isn't done in the next four days I don't think the club will be around too much longer.

"It's losing £80,000 a month, it can't sell any players and it's not making money on the gate receipts."

Griffin would not reveal the financial details of the offer made to Australia-based Petty who paid £1 for the Third Division club last October.

But the 55-year-old said, "Put it this way - what we're giving him won't jeopardise the club in any way.

"On the day he finishes at the Vetch he will leave with less than £1 but he may get something over time, although that depends on many factors."

He added, "I'd like to reiterate that we won't be running the club. We will put the club into the hands of local management and we will make an announcement on that in due course.

"Our angle is property development. That is how we hope to get our investment back and hopefully make a profit.

"We think Swansea City is a fantastic prospect. Our view is that the Vetch site would make a very nice place for residential flats.

"Our scheme would be great for Swansea City because clubs in the Second and Third Divisions cannot survive on their own merit."

Last week the council insisted it would not sell off the Vetch for development because "it is a public asset, subject to specific controls".

But Griffin is confident he will change the council's mind.

"Once they see our plans in motion I'm sure they will be more than happy with the scheme. It would be wrong of me to say anymore than that at this stage," he said.

"The club has a 35-year lease at the Vetch and the annual rental is £5,000 each year. That's a total of £150,000. Why would the council want to hold on to that situation?

"We are not bully boys. We want to do the best thing for Swansea and the best thing for the football club - something we've said all along."

COLIN Addison has refused to be drawn on speculation that Matthew Bound is poised to make his loan move to Oxford permanent.

United director of football Ian Atkins claimed after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Swansea that the 29-year-old centre-back was ready to sign a long-term deal at the Kassam Stadium.

With Bound's one-month loan stay up this weekend, Addison is keeping his cards close to his chest.

''The way Ian Atkins spoke it looks as if they want to take him permanently, '' said Addison.

''But nothing has been done yet and we'll have to see what happens later in the week.

''He was one of the players made available on a free transfer but at the moment I wouldn't want to say any more than that.'' Former Cardiff assistant boss Atkins said: ''I have not got a clue how the takeover at Swansea will affect our chances of signing Bound but I know he is keen to join us.

''I would like him to sign because he has got a big heart and you want people like that around.

''He's the kind of player who has seen promotion and got to the playoffs and that's what you want in your squad.'' Meanwhile, Addison looks set to name a full-strength side for tonight's FAW Premier Cup quarter-final at Newport County (6.55pm).

''We are not underestimating them and we will be treating it like a league game, '' said former Newport manager Addison.

''It's always nice for me going back to my old club. Tim Harris, their manager, was in my youth team when I was there, so it should be an interesting night.'' Swansea will again be without Steve Brodie (hamstring) and Lee Jenkins (knee), while Neil Sharp faces a late fitness test on an ankle injury picked up at Oxford on Saturday.

Should Sharp be ruled out, Chris Todd could come in for a first start since October or Nick Cusack could switch to defence in front of the live BBC cameras.

''I was disappointed with the defending for Oxford's two goals on Saturday, '' added Addison.

''There were still some good signs, though, so hopefully we can get back on track tonight.'' Swansea's reserves take on Bristol Rovers at Vetch Field tomorrow, kick-off 12pm.

Carmarthen Town are hoping for an FA Premier Cup upset when they entertain Second Division strugglers Wrexham tonight (6.55pm).

SWANSEA skipper Nick Cusack reckons the defeat against Oxford is just a temporary setback and the players have the strength of character to bounce back.

Cusack, who had a sound game against one of his former clubs, blamed poor defending for the 2-1 loss but says the overall performance was deserving of at least a draw.

''I thought we played well and showed a hell of a lot of commitment, '' he said.

''But two sloppy goals cost us because I think we had 75 per cent of the game.

''If we keep battling we will win more than we lose.'' The skipper was pleased with the way the team started at the Kassam Stadium and were rewarded with Jon Coates's early goal.

He thought Swansea caused Oxford a lot of problems but the two goals were conceded when it could have been a case of taking the lead themselves.

''We lost a goal from the corner and let them get the second from a simple flickon which we should have dealt with, '' he added.

''And just before that Coatesey had a great chance going through and we could have been going in at half-time 2-1 up.

''In the second half they just sat in deep and we just couldn't break them down.'' Cusack said the players could and would bounce back from the defeat as the commitment and spirit which has been typical of Swansea's recent performances was there.

But he admitted that the scoreline couldn't be changed and it was something that just had to be dealt with.

''Anybody watching the game would say we were unfortunate not to get something out of it, '' he said.

''It thought we were the better side. But results don't tell lies and we are obviously disappointed not to get something.

''But we have a game next week against Macclesfield where we can put that right and get three points.''

MAYBE he was 12,500 miles away and maybe this was his last game in charge of the club, but Tony Petty had a hand in one more black day for Swansea City as they slumped 2-1 at Oxford United.

Because when Colin Addison turned to his substitutes' bench for attacking options, there was none there.

Of course Petty cannot be blamed for the injuries which ruled out top scorer Mamady Sidibe and the increasingly influential Steve Brodie for the trip to the Kassam Stadium.

Indeed, the Aussie-based chairman would have much preferred those two fit. That would have given him the chance of selling them.

As it was, Steve Watkin and John Williams were the only senior strikers at Addison's disposal for what most hope was Petty's final game in charge.

Watkin worked hard without ever really threatening, Williams was too often off the pace.

It was the sort of game when Sidibe, with his combination of power, pace and unpredictability, would have had a field day.

And as well as Jonathan Coates played, Brodie has been Swansea's form player of late and they missed the link he provides between midfield and attack.

Oxford's defending looked suspect early on ? the yellow backfour was almost statuesque when Jonathan Coates latched onto Terry Evans's clearance header and rounded Ian McCaldon to give Swansea the lead.

The visitors' defending, too, was fairly shabby at two crucial moments.

First, a pack of white shirts ? plus the green of Roger Freestone ? got in one another's away while Paul Moody headed Paul Powell's corner into an empty net for Oxford's equaliser.

Second, after Coates had failed to restore Swansea's advantage when oneon-one with McCaldon, Michael Howard and Andrew Mumford failed to cope with the Oxford keeper's big clearance.

Andy Scott said thank you very much, steadying himself to slide home the winning goal.

''It was our bad defending rather than their good play which gave them the two goals, '' admitted Swans assistant boss Peter Nicholas afterwards.

''It's a team game and I am not going to blame anyone in particular but there were individual defensive errors which turned into goals.

''We could have cleared the ball and we didn't early on and then we should have dealt with the corner which brought their first goal. The second goal was a bit of a mix-up.'' After a promising start, Swansea were a little unfortunate to turn round a goal behind.

At the end, they were unlucky not to have extended their unbeaten run to six games after dominating second-half possession.

But for all their ball, Addison's men failed to carve out a decent chance - McCaldon was only called into serious action by Kris O'Leary's 30-yard ripper.

And when Addison wanted to shuffle his pack, he realised the four outfield players on the bench were all of similar suits.

No disrespect to Gareth Phillips, Leigh De-Vulgt and Chris Todd ? who boast two league goals between them ? but none is ever likely to be the Vetch's answer to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ryan Casey, the man Addison did turn to with 24 minutes left, can be a creative winger, but the Irishman's disappointing season continued as he once again failed to impose himself on the contest.

In the closing minutes, Swansea even pushed centre-back Sharp up front.

But what was needed was another striker. Addison knew it when Sidibe was stretchered off at Exeter on Boxing Day.

Straight away he was on the phone in search of an on-loan replacement, soon after Petty vetoed any ideas Addison had about bringing in a new face.

Next, as a result of Petty's failure to pay players' wages, the Football League placed an embargo on Swansea which meant Addison could bring no one in anyway.

After Saturday's frustrating defeat and the goalless draw against Lincoln the previous week, the Swans boss is still waiting to add to his squad.

''We are a bit short of options and we all know the problems we've got with the embargo, '' added Nicholas.

''We had a lot of possession in the second-half at Oxford but we did not really create enough.

''They played a bit deeper and with three big lads at the back, we could not break them down. But with the possession we had we should have done better.

''We missed Brods, we tried Neil Sharp up there. The longer the game went on we were just hoping for a break.

''We looked at the bench and we had not got a natural striker. There isn't one unless we go to the kids, and they are too young to bring through at the moment.'' In the first period Swansea had created ? O'Leary had a header well saved while Williams and Watkin sent their efforts off target.

But Oxford should really have stretched their lead after the break, with Scott spurning two breakaway chances to warm their frozen fans.

Scott was not made to pay for his wastefulness and fittingly, if the speculation is true, Petty's reign at the Vetch ended with defeat.

First task for the new owners is to sort out the financial mess that will be Petty's legacy.

Then, perhaps, when the focus returns to football, they will give Addison the OK to strengthen his attacking options.

SWANS STAR CHOICE JONATHAN COATES Impressed filling in for the injured Steve Brodie in the role of most advanced midfielder. Central to most of Swansea's more incisive play in the first half and took his goal well.

THERE have been far too many false dawns at Swansea City over the past few months to suggest the club is about to discover a brighter future on the horizon.

But with an announcement due today or tomorrow about a takeover at the Vetch - following chairman Tony Petty's promise the Swans would be under new ownership by the end of January - the long-suffering supporters can be forgiven for believing the worst is indeed behind them.

London-based property developer Mel Griffin is the hot tip to succeed with his rescue package, though supporters of former Swans director Mel Nurse are adamant it will fail on the basis the City and County of Swansea Council are unwilling to relinquish the Vetch for development.

Regardless of whether it's Mel Griffin, Mel Nurse or even Spice Girl Mel B who saves the Swans from their financial crisis, one thing is certain - the players will battle on and the management team of Colin Addison and Peter Nicholas will continue to draw the best from them.

That's what happened at Oxford's half-built Kassam Stadium

Match facts

Oxford United................(2) 2 Swansea City ................(1) 1

Oxford: McCaldon, Richardson (Guyett,

45), Powell, Scott, Whitehead, Stockley (Tait, 64), Quinn, Ricketts, Morely, Crosby, Moody (Gray, 72). Subs not used: Omoyinmi, Brooks Goals: Moody (16), Scott (31) Swansea: Freestone, Evans, Howard, O'Leary, Cusack, Sharp, Mumford, Coates, Williams, Watkin, Lacey (Casey, 67). Subs not used: Jones, Todd, Phillips, De Vulght Goal: Coates (11) Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire) Attendance: 5,934 Best moment: Andy Scott's calmness and composure to cooly side-foot past Roger Freestone for Oxford's second goal. on Saturday, though the result brought to an end Swansea's promising run of five games without defeat.

Jonathan Coates's early effort was cancelled out by Paul Moody before Andy Scott gave the U's a grateful, if undeserved, lead 31 minutes into the clash.

"I can't work out what's between the players' ears," said Swansea assistant manager Nicholas afterwards.

"Two defensive lapses led to Oxford's goals - things which you work on with players in training during the build-up to a match.

"It's a very disappointing result. We should've done better because we started well and enjoyed a lot of second-half possession.

"It was a shame, because we had previously gone five games without losing - games in which we defended well."

Swansea desperately missed the attacking influence of midfielder Steve Brodie, ruled out by a ham-string injury and replaced by Damien Lacey.

Another noteable absentee was defender Mathew Bound - on loan at Oxford from Swansea - who this week hopes to complete a permanent switch to the Kassam Stadium.

His soon-to-be former colleagues took a 1-0 lead after 11 minutes when Coates latched on to a Terry Evans header and slipped a low ball past goalkeeper Ian McCaldon for his fifth league goal of the season.

The advantage only lasted five minutes, a static Swans defence allowing Moody time to connect with Paul Powell's corner to head in Oxford's equaliser.

And Oxford capitalised on more poor Swansea defending just after the half-hour mark.

McCaldon's long clearance fell straight to striker Scott who managed to shrug off the attention of two Swans defenders before cooly sidefooting in from 18 yards. Swansea dominated the second-half but couldn't find an opening, a 20-yard drive from Kris O'Leary the visitors' only real effort on goal.

After waking from their slumber, Oxford missed a glorious opportunity to score a third when Scott found himself through on goal in the 90th minute but flashed his shot embarassingly wide of the right-hand post.

"It might have been cruel on Swansea if we'd gone 3-1 up," admitted Oxford's director of football Ian Atkins.

"To be fair to Swansea, they pushed forward and went for the equaliser but we managed to hold on. It was probably one of our poorest performances since I've been at the club, but one of the better results.

"Sometimes you find things aren't quite right, but the players have the ability to grind out results - that's true whether you're Oxford United or Manchester United.

"Bearing in mind we were 1-0 down and had to come back, it was an excellent result."

Atkins revealed he hopes to sign Bound to bolster Oxford's outside chance of reaching the Division Three play-offs.

"I haven't got a clue how the take-over at Swansea City will affect our chances of signing Mathew," he said.

"But he's keen to sign and we're keen to have him here.

"We want people like Mathew at this club - people who've experienced promotions and been to play-offs before."

Oxford United.................2 Swansea City .................1

SWANSEA'S mini-revival hit the rocks as they fell in the freezing Thames Valley.

Paul Moody and Andy Scott both rose from their sick beds to net inside 16 first-half minutes as Ian Atkins' U's came back from the dead in front of almost 6,000 fans.

But things had looked black in the early moments for Oxford as Jon Coates put the improving Swans on course for a ninth League win - then came the Moody-and-Scott show.

Swansea showed just one change from the side held at home by Lincoln last Saturday, Damien Lacey slotting in to midfield for the injured Steve Brodie.

There was a boost for the U's as first-choice strike-force Paul Moody and Andy Scott recovered from pulls and strains to take their place in the side.

The action was frenetic in the opening minutes, despite a lowkey atmosphere at kick-off and the Swans pulled ahead after just 10 minutes.

Oxford fatally stopped for offside as Terry Evans flicked on, and Jon Coates raced through to score with consummate ease.

United were dramatically level on 15 minutes, though, as the Swans were guilty of freezing from a set-piece.

Paul Powell's right-side corner mesmerised everyone except Moody, who rose and powered into the net from 10 yards.

The clash was making gripping viewing and the visitors almost regained the lead after about 20 minutes. Ian McCaldon's right-hand cross foiled Kris O'Leary but the Scot was relieved to see Steve Watkins' header skidding past the post.

But the U's roared into a lead on 31 minutes. Robert Quinn tore through the middle to set up former Brentford team-mate Scott, who netted with a crisp left-foot finish. HT: Oxford United 2, Swansea City 1.

Former Cardiff number-two Atkins altered Oxford's strategy at the break. The brittle-looking U's went from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2, Scott Guyet coming off the bench into central defence, fullback Jon Richardson withdrawn.

A clutch of Swansea corners soon tested that format and McCaldon was forced to go low to his left to touch away Kris O'Leary's 30-yard blockbuster on 51 minutes.

The biting cold appeared to be affecting both rivals as the teams struggled for any sort of continuity.

But Swansea's O'Leary was back in the action before the hour - glancing Andy Mumford's deep right-side free-kick across goal with skipper Nick Cusack desperately attempting to provide the killer touch.

Late in the game, Oxford sent Paul Tait and Northern Ireland international Phil Gray replaced Sam Stokley and Moody and the home side held on.

Oxford United 2-1 Swansea City

SWANSEA'S renaissance came to an abrupt end but perhaps that was half the tale in the freezing Thames Valley.

According to an impeccable Vetch source, a mystery Palestinian businessman was in the Kassam Stadium watching the game - the same individual who had held talks with Swans' managing director Don Goss in Swansea last Thursday.

Under fire owner Tony Petty insists a buy-out of his club is imminent, and rumours are rife that a major announcement on the Londoner's eagerly awaited departure will occur within the next 72 hours.

As for the game, the Swans' five match unbeaten run hit the rocks as United's double act Paul Moody and Andy Scott capsized the visitors inside 16 first-half minutes.

Yet the skies had looked bright for the Swans as they roared ahead after just 10 minutes through Jon Coates.

Vetch No. 2 Peter Nicholas reflected on the whispered take-over and this defeat.

"I can't say much about a buy-out because I don't know what's going on, but there has been a lot of off-the-field drama recently," he said.

"But the lads are showing a wonderful spirit and plenty of guts. The reason we lost this game was because of poor decision-making.

"Both Oxford goals were from mistakes and that's something we have to reflect on. We had plenty of possession, particularly in the second-half, but we didn't hit them enough and paid the penalty."

Oxford boss Ian Atkins was another who felt Swansea hadn't benefited from a wealth of possession. He said: "The Swans had the ball more times than us but they didn't really work our goalkeeper. Swansea really came at us after the break, yet we created the two best chances in that period."

Swansea tinkered with a side that was held at home by Lincoln last Saturday - the injured Steve Brodie dropping out, Damien Lacey taking his place in mid-field.

There was a boost for Atkins's Oxford as first choice strike force Moody and Scott recovered from a cold and strain to take their place.

Both rivals were looking to improve their mid-table position, and Oxford were seeking first blood, launching a raid in the opening 15 seconds. Paul Powell eagerly skipped past Terry Evans on the left - his drive bulging the side netting.

Just seconds later Swans keeper Roger Freestone clutched Sam Stokley's menacing corner, but Addison's braves were hitting back with a slick raid in the seventh minute.

Coates set things up, but skipper Nick Cusack's 25-yard rocket screamed wide with United's goalkeeper Ian McCaldon struggling to cover. But the former Livingstone stopper was beaten three minutes later. Oxford fatally froze and appealed for off-side, Evans flicked on and Coates moved in to score easily.

United were dramatically level after 15 minutes, however.

Swansea failed to clear Powell's right-side corner and Moody rose to power into the net from 10 yards.

The clash was developing into a gripping encounter and Swansea could have been ahead around the 20-minute mark - Kris O'Leary's downward header poured to safety by a flying McCaldon.

But Swansea were paying the ultimate penalty for a dreadful miss around the half-hour. Coates was clean through but he shot straight at McCaldon. And from the re-start, midfielder Robert Quinn advanced to feed Scott who curled past Freestone with a left-foot finish.

Oxford were altering strategy at the break as they went from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 - sub Scott Guyett moving into central defence, full-back John Richardson coming off.

Swansea were seeking to take advantage but a clutch of corners yielded nothing and there was more frustration as keeper McCaldon went down low to his right to touch away O'Leary's rocket on 51 minutes.

THE telephone rang in Colin Addison's office under-neath the main stand at the Vetch.

On the other end of the line was Nottingham Forest manager Paul Hart, who thought HE had problems at the cash-strapped Midlands club.

"Oh, by the way," Addison told him, putting the Forest problems in perspective. "After the wages not being paid here, the transfer embargo being slapped on the club and my players being sold, today we've got no electricity at our training ground!"

It is one thing after another during the Tony Petty regime at Swansea City. (By the way, not once since he went back to Australia has the chairman spoken to Addison.)

"In terms of leadership from the top, I've never known anything like it during my many years in the game," said Addison.

"Directors?" he mused. "We've never got any at our matches. The other day, I took my old friend, the ex-referee Howard King, to one of our games. I said, `Kingy, do you want to be chairman for the day?'

"I told two of my other friends, `If you don't sit in the directors' box, we're going to have to put cardboard cut-outs in there.' It gets to the stage where you have to have a little joke about it."

It's a fair bet to say that when the Division Three Manager of the Year award is handed out at the end of the season, Addison and his No2 Peter Nicholas won't get a look in.

But I defy any manager at any other club to say they have done a better job this year than the Swansea pair who, under the most trying of circumstances, have somehow hauled their team away from the dreaded drop into the Conference.

Nowhere, not even at down-on-their laurels Newport County, pressure-cooker Atletico Madrid, Cadiz, Merthyr Tydfil, Scarborough, Yeovil or Derby post-Brian Clough, has Addison quite had a four-month period as tortuous as a manager.

The danger of the club going out of existence is still real. This week Petty has to answer 15 cases to the Football League over his running of the club, which could, in the worst-case scenario, lead to the Swans having points docked.

Yet still Addison refuses to take the easy route of walking away.

"Not my style," he asserts. "Roll up your sleeves and get on with it, I say.

"Yes, there are many times over the past few weeks when, during quiet moments, I have asked myself, `Addo, what have you let yourself in for? What have you done?' "I asked Peter to join me from Barry, where he had won the League of Wales and got his team into the Champions League. And here we are, putting up with this nonsense.

"In moments of doubt like those, I will go and have a quiet beer. Or, if I'm at the ground, I will walk across the road and have a quiet stroll up and down the beach, just to clear my head.

"But never once have I thought of packing it in. Not once. You know me - I like a challenge. And we've certainly got one here!

"Luckily, I've got my many years as a manager to call upon. A younger person could not have stuck it out because they wouldn't have that experience behind them.

"Mine and Peter's pay cheques have bounced too, you know. It's not just the players.

"But when you're in football, you either mope or you get on with things. I'm actually still enjoying it - the on-the-pitch stuff anyway. And what the players have done in putting the little run together which has taken us up to mid-table is quite remarkable.

"When I spoke to Paul, I pointed out to him that I had just come in from training. We had no electricity in the changing rooms - it's off at the moment - but at least out on the pitch we could play football for two hours. Practice corner kicks, free kicks, other set pieces, work on tactics.

"I told Paul that's the best part of the job. It is when I come inside and someone comes to me with another piece of paper - the most recent was the transfer embargo notice from the Football League - or I'm told I have to go to yet another meeting, that the `Oh no, here we go again' feeling sets in."

That's the sort of feel -ing Addison had to endure on Christmas Eve when he was told there was no money to pay the players' wages, just days after they had been assured there would be.

"I haven't spoken to Tony Petty since he went back to Australia which, considering our run of results, is disappointing," says Addison.

"Not for myself, but it would have been nice if he had rung to say, `Colin, tell Peter Nic and the players, well done from me.'

"But the message I did get was the one on Christmas Eve - you're not being paid.

"The players spent Christmas Day wondering where their money would come from. On Boxing Day, we had to leave Swansea for a 1pm kick-off at Exeter.

"There wasn't time for a pre-match meal. There wasn't even time to settle in the dressing room, put the kit out and have a proper team talk.

"No, as our team bus neared Exeter, I asked for the radio to be turned down, took my jacket off and delivered my pep talk there and then.

"I told the players, `I know you've had an ugly Christmas. I know it's unfair. But do you want to PLAY?' I told those who did to put their hands up and come forward to the front of the bus.

"Every single player put his hand up - and we won the game 3-0.

for 90 minutes their troubles are behind them.

"The only game that matches that Exeter one was the 4-0 drubbing of Queens Park Rangers, before a Sky TV audience.

"I can't speak highly enough of some of my players. Roger Freestone in goal, for starters. His experience has seen us through.

"Nick Cusack, what a leader! Some of our younger players like Terry Evans, Nathan Sharp. Steve Brodie, whom we've just brought in. Mamady Sidibe, who struck a rich vein of goal-scoring form before injuring his ankle and being sidelined for a month.

"Typical that, isn't it? Sidibe is going great guns when, wallop, he's out. It's like when we lost Kris O'Leary and Damien Lacey for six matches. Couldn't be three and three, could it - oh no, we had to lose the pair of them at the identical time.

"I know every club has injury problems, but in our situation it just exacerbates the situation and we feel it more than most."

Still the cutbacks have to continue. Addison has issued a circular to clubs indicating that some of his players are available.

"It is the reality of the situation," he said. "Players can leave, but we can't get anyone in to replace them.

"But I just have to accept that. What's the alternative - fight the Football League in a battle we can't win?

"No, we roll up our sleeves, accept the problems, and get on with it.

"And despite everything that has happened, not once have we talked here about finishing bottom of the pile. Peter and I just wouldn't let that happen, even though we've never taken anything for granted."

Then it was off, doubtless, to take more phone calls from other managers who reckon they are down on their luck and want their own problems eased a bit by hearing of the Swans' plight?

Still, at least Addison can have those conversations. BT haven't yet cut off the phone lines ... not as of yesterday, anyway.

TONY PETTY has launched an astonishing tirade against Swansea City fans, Cardiff City followers and the Football League.

His blast could be a parting shot, for there is mounting specualtion Petty is close to doing a £750,000 deal to sell up to the Hull-based Melvyn Griffin consortium.

The controversial Swans chairman incredibly dubbed the club's fans as racist. He claimed: "The people of Swansea have been racist towards me.

"They couldn't accept a Londoner coming in and changing things.

"That applies to the people of Wales generally. You only had to listen to those pathetic `Argentina' chants Cardiff fans were directing at Leeds fans last weekend.

"These people should remember what the Argentinians did to 75 Welsh Guardsmen during the Falklands War," slammed Petty.

And Petty, who has been ordered to attend a Football League meeting in Preston tomorrow to answer 15 concerns the League has over his running of the Vetch club, insisted he wouldn't be going.

He said from his Australian base: "I've already answered these queries by letter.

"There is no way anybody is summoning me to any meeting - particularly when I'm 12,500 miles away."

Petty's triple outburst comes as the League demands answers to the way the controversy-hit Swans have been run. The League has written to

Petty, asking him to attend the meeting at 2pm tomorrow to answer 15 queries they have issued.

Wales on Sunday has obtained a copy of the questions the League have raised.

These include:

THE Swans' ability to fulfil their fixtures until the end of the season; PETTY's proposals for the club's future; WHY have QPR not yet received their share of gate receipts from the recent FA Cup game at The Vetch; WHY have some of the players' pension contributions not yet been paid.

The League said they could not comment on the issues.

Petty also said he was not in a position to discuss the League meeting, other than to say: "I have already had a big chat with the Football League to answer a number of different points raised.

"I have also answered these queries by letter. I have told the people concerned exactly what the financial situation is at the club. They are fully informed."

Petty stressed he would not be flying in from Australia to attend the meeting. It is believed the club's new managing director, Don Goss, will represent the Swans.

Petty, who is looking to sell the Swans, said: "I'm so disappointed things have not worked out because I felt I was the right person to pull the club around."

A spokesman for the Swans Supporters Trust said of Petty's blast: "Accusations like this do not even bear commenting upon."

Petty has made it clear he is looking to sell the Swans, and there was mounting talk last night he had done a £750,000 deal with the Griffin consortium.

Griffin is keen to redevelop The Vetch, which still has 36 years to run on its lease, for housing.

Swansea council seem to prefer to do a deal with the local Mel Nurse-led consortium, called NEWCO, which is made up of local business figures.

But Griffin and Petty have been involved in detailed talks and a takeover could be imminent.