Swansea Scouting Revamp As Potter Rings Changes

Swansea have confirmed that all their current scouting team have been relieved of their duties, with Graham Potter solely in charge of the club’s transfer strategy.

Potter is determined to put his own stamp on the club and has replaced Head of Recruitment Dave Leadbeater with Kyle Macauley, his former assistant manager at Ostersunds.

Leadbeater will be joined by Technical Recruitment scout Ian Henderson, his assistant Ian Roscrow and Bryan Flynn and Gerhard Tremmel who have all been shown the door.

The former two have been at the club since 2010 and 2012 respectively and had been a part of the furniture at the Liberty Stadium.

That has been torn up, with a statement from the club reading, “Graham will decide which areas of the team or squad need strengthening.

“Kyle will identify the key targets, research and study all the available information including scouting reports and data before providing a list to be pursued.”

It’s thought that list is already well underway with Potter having already identified a list of targets. He’ll first assess his players however before beginning business, but it’s certainly looking like it will be a busy pre-season ahead of life in the Championship.

World Cup Competition: Your chance to win a World Cup shirt or your choice

Bet and Skill are giving football fans the chance to win a World Cup kit of their choice to celebrate the 2018 World Cup.

The world has gone crazy for replica shirts this summer, with the Nigeria shirt selling out in minutes. Bet and Skill are giving the chance for fans to win one of 64 shirts on display this summer by answering one simple question.

It’s part of a much wider campaign for the brand, who have been offering World Cup tips and odds in the many months building up to the competition.

That will continue throughout the tournament, where they will also be unearthing the best World Cup betting promotions across the UK’s biggest bookmakers.

David at Bet & Skill said, “We’ve been building up to the World Cup for months and we’re excited run this competition and see fans really get behind their team.”

The competition closes on 14/07/2018 nd the winner will be contacted within seven days.

To win, fans need to head to the Bet & Skill website and answer the following question:

In which colour kit did England lift the World Cup trophy in 1966?


A. White

B. Blue

C. Red

You can view full details and enter the competition at: http://www.betandskill.com/join-the-strip-club-world-cup-competition/

Bet & Skill are one of the best betting affiliate sites in the country, offering the biggest odds and promotions from the nation’s favourite bookmakers.

Posting reviews on all major events across the football season, Bet & Skill are a one stop shop for all your sports betting needs.

West Ham Sign Fabianski In £7million Deal

West Ham have signed Swansea Player of the Year Lukasz Fabianski in a £7million deal.

The Polish international was seeking a move after the club’s relegation to the Championship and makes the move over to the London Stadium on a three-year deal.

The Swans had originally turned down a bid for the stopper, alongside another bid for Alfie Mawson, but it’s thought a higher bid managed to make the club succumb as they prepare for life in the second tier of English football.

Fabianski, who is currently at the World Cup with Poland, joined the Swans back in 2014 from Arsenal and went on to become a star player for the club, making 150 appearances across four seasons.

He was an ever-present and it’s no real surprise to see the 33-year-old leave following a fantastic season between the sticks at the Liberty.

Graham Potter will now have to search for a new number one, with only the Swede Kristoffer Nordfeldt and Erwin Mulder in the first team squad.

Graham Potter Named New Swansea Boss

Graham Potter has been unveiled as the new Swansea manager, signing a three-year deal with the club.

The Englishman joins from Swedish side Ostersund, with both clubs coming to an arrangement in regards to compensation.

Potter will lead the Swans rebuild as they look to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. He’ll be joined by Billy Reid as his assistant and Kyle Macaulay, who will also follow from Potter’s former club.

The 43-year-old has worked his way through the leagues with Ostersund, culminating in a Europa League battle with Arsenal last season, where they won the second leg at the Emirates.

Potter said upon being unveiled as manager, "It's a chance to start again.

"We know how frustrating the last few years have been, but hopefully the relegation will be seen in a few years' time as the best thing that ever happened to the club.

"We will try our best and work hard every day to give the supporters a team they can feel proud of; they can connect with and see are trying to improve."

Ostersund chairman has been singing Potter’s praises in recent weeks after conceding bigger things are on the horizon for the former West Brom player.

Daniel Kindberg, who operates as the club’s chairman said, “He will not only take Swansea back to the Premier League, he will make the name of Swansea City bigger than it is today.

"The limit is down to the support he can get and if he gets enough he will do miracles."

Life in the Championship: Where Will We Finish Next Season?

Life in the Championship is never easy but the Swans have earned promotion from it before and are heavily backed with the bookies to do it again.

Most bookmakers are predicting the club will bounce straight back to the top flight and are the current favourites to end up in top spot.

You can back the club to win the title at 15/2, while the club’s promotion odds lie at 3/1.

That’s level with the Premier League’s two other casualties Stoke and West Brom, while Aston Villa are also hotly tipped following their Play Off Final defeat.

If the Swans are going to bounce straight back they’re going to get organised, and that starts with a new manager.

The club will be expected to lose a number of players over the summer, so finding replacements will be key.

Middlesbrough and Frank Lampard’s Derby are also favoured to mount a challenge according to the bookies, the latter a 16/1 shot to take top spot.

At the other end of the table, Ipswich are the favourites for relegation, following a tough season. The side have just appointed Paul Hurst as their new boss for the 2018/19 campaign, after he failed to achieve promotion with Shrewsbury last season.

QPR and Millwall are also among the favourites for the drop, alongside Reading, Nottingham Forest and Preston North End.

It’s going to be a tough season for the Swans. If they can keep the nucleus of the squad, promotion is surely the only position acceptable. That’s a lot of pressure on the new man. Can we do it?

The Swans Out On Loan: What Happens Now?

It’s going to be an interesting summer at the Liberty. Not only are a number of players wanting to move on, the club will be wanting to offload a number of players, including those currently returning from loan deals.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the next few weeks. With those returning, we take a look at those now back in Swansea whose future may lie elsewhere...

Roque Mesa

Mesa looks all but confirmed to be making his way out of the Liberty Stadium this summer.

The midfielder spent the second half of last season at Sevilla, becoming a regular in the first team. They look set to lose money on the £11million the spent on him last season with the Spanish side likely to snap him up for just £7million.

Jefferson Montero

Montero has suffered with injury in recent years and in turn it’s seen his form drop considerably.

He failed to make the most of a loan move to Emelec. An interesting bit of business, after failing on loan at Getafe, he was given permission to make a sub-loan switch to the Ecuadorian side.

After a good start to Swans life, he’ll certainly be offloaded in the summer. That’s if anyone wants him.

Borja Baston

Swansea invested heavily in 2016, spending £15million to bring him over from Atlético Madrid.

One goal in 18 Premier League games saw him shipped out to Malaga for last term and it’s been a very similar story.

He’s struggled with confidence and has picked up a few injuries which has only added insult. In fact, Malaga were relegated from La Liga.

It’s unlikely the Swans will want to keep him on, but with two years left on his contract, it’s going to be an interesting summer for the Spaniard.

Jordi Amat

Amat has enjoyed a decent spell at Real Betis this season, finishing sixth in La Liga and making 26 appearances.

He’s enjoyed playing regularly and will be desperate to make the switch permanently. It’s likely a number of clubs would be interested in taking him, so the Swans may struggle to keep hold of him in the Championship.

Swansea in Talks with Ostersund Manager Potter

Swansea have confirmed they are in talks with Ostersund manager Graham Potter for the vacant role at the Liberty.

Potter has been heavily linked with the club since Carlos Carvalhal’s departure and reports are suggesting the Swedish club have allowed the 43-year-old to speak to the Swans.

It’ll be the first move in Swansea’s rebuild and one that couldn’t come quick enough given the work that needs to be done following relegation to the Championship.

Potter has been in charge at the Swedish club since 2010 and are currently sixth in the Allsvenskan, six points off the European placings.

He’s done a remarkable job to get them there; when he took over they were languishing in the Swedish Fourth Division. Back-to-back promotions and promotion in 2016 helped them get to the top flight for the first time in their history, winning the Swedish Cup.

That produced European football, where they famously took on Arsenal in the Europa League last season, so he’s been a success so far.

Ostersund is Potter’s only managerial job to date, following a long career in the Football League. He started out with Birmingham City, before moving to Stoke, West Brom and York City among others.

It’s thought that striker Saman Ghoddos and midfielder Ken Sema could follow Potter, with both out of contract at the end of the Swedish season.