Le spectacle doit continuer.

The Show must go on.

Given the recent traumas at Swansea City, you could excuse all and sundry if they just wanted to slip away to a relaxing Summer beach for a well deserved holiday. Unfortunately, in the cut-throat world of the PL, it doesn't quite work like that.

One third of the triumvirate components of our Club are already on the beaches of Europe if they've any sense (and I think they have) - that's the Playing Staff - and you can't blame them.

However, 2/3rds of that collective have no option other than to seek out our next Leader, a quality Manager who can continue to steer us on this fabulous journey - and that's our admirable Board, led by the terrific Huw Jenkins.

Coupled, of course, with US, the Fans, who will always live on our nerves as we continue to ride the switchback.

Whilst we supporters are almost locked-in by our emotional attachment, our elegant Chairman, who's conducted himself with a degree of dignity and nous sadly absent in some others recently, has now, again, to turn his and the Board's focus onto selecting a suitable and crucial future Leader.


Btw, if you doubt HJ's restrained sensibility, compare him to Dave (TownCryer) Whelan, who I'm convinced made the FSG Group at Anfield, who chose Brendan Rodgers, realise what a narrow escape they had with his trumpeting of Roberto's this and Roberto that in the past week.

Christ, he's like your aged embarrassing Grandparent, guaranteed to offend in his unreconstructed blundering through the modern football milieu. If he hasn't wet himself he's clumsily gobbed on both someone else and himself.

You feel he and Sepp would be good mates - I think you'll know exactly what I mean. Perhaps they could discuss the cut of Ladies shorts (again).

Of course, in this off-season, both we and Norwich City, our fellow promotees from last year ( who had an excellent season too) have been the recipient of a raid - Norwich's admirable Manager Paul Lambert having been snaffled by another European Cup winning team fallen on harder times - Aston Villa. 

My commiserations to East Anglia - we know how you feel - in spades.

I often feel that when these occasions occur, there's a certain inevitable dynamic.

I've written previously about the inequity of a large shark-like predation on the smaller, successful Club's resources, and this encompasses both Players and Managers.

This media-accepted "inevitability" sticks in my craw, so I was delighted to hear HJ confirm via the talkSPORT platform that there was not only the compensatory payment for Boston's plunder of South Wales to the tune of £7m, but that there was also an exclusion zone placed around our players (to Liverpool at least) of 12mnths.

However, I have no doubt that Liverpool retained Lawyers are at this very moment perusing this agreement to discover its weaknesses, but you have to say it's at least some sort of pugnacious defence.

Good on you HJ, big up.

I suspect however that since the Gylfi deal is not yet signed and sealed, it might fall outside the terms of this so-called agreement, as indicated already by BR.



Whilst we Swans fans can only speculate whilst our Board deliberates, some of the suggestions hold out hope for me that we have a body of support that's a bit cueter than the frequently bestowed "Football Sheep" mentality regularly tagged to adoring fans of most Clubs by that self same serving national Media.

Bookmakers lists appeared that contained lots of "regular suspects". I don't have to list them - take a look for yourselves.

There are names on that list that I wouldn't give a guidance to about how to get to the Liberty Stadium, let alone allowing them to Manage. WTF? Shudder.

The strongest of the early rumours purported to suggest that Graeme Jones, previously a Coach at our Club and nowadays Martinez's No 2 at Wigan was the favourite - and he led the betting, short term. Fortunately, from my standpoint at least, latest reports suggest that it will not be him, for whatever reason I don't care.

My view point stands against him because I think the job is bigger than his current profile and he just would not cope.

And there's the rub.

We know, as Fans, and the Board know, as our guidance, that the philosophy of participation in our Club is precisely that - a Philosophy.

A mind-set, a style, a pattern, a Fashion - call it what you will. It is based upon Barcelona's maxim - Mes Que un Club - literally, More than a Club. This is not some grandiose attempt to grab the skirts of the of the World's best ever football teams - the key word is club.

It involves ceding personal advancement unless it betters the whole. It involves us , as fans, giving the Players the responsibility and patience to achieve. It means re-grouping when we're knocked back, and then setting out to continue on the same path. It means building - internally and externally.

It remains a must that the Training Academy and  Club facilities are developed, as promised, over the next few years due to our current PL largesse. It means retaining the humility, and personal worth that we and all involved feel as Swansea City fans. Mes Que un Club.

So here's Saturday, and I'm about to watch England v Belgium in a pre European championship warm up game which I'm looking forward to, particularly to see Eden Hazard , recently Chelsea signed for £35m. Wow. Let's have a look, and I'll be back later.

Well, having watched the England/Belgium game it seems clear that Hodgson is imposing his limited 4-4-2 mentality on the Team - but, to give him his due, that may be a necessity, coming as he is to such a late staged campaign.

Over the next few weeks we'll see.

To get back to our own situation, here's a brief outline of my thoughts.

I've indicated previously that I don't see value in the tried and trusted route, and our Chairman's quotes make it clear that neither does our Board - so we can gladly kiss goodbye to the Steve Bruce, Alan Curbishley et als of this world. Thank goodness for that- they would so obviously not suit.

That leaves, it seems to me, two other routes.

One - the up and comers. The best 2 I have to say seem to me to be Lee Clark, currently unattached, and Chris Hughton, currently at Birmingham.

Two - to go abroad. And somewhat left-field at that, since my preferred duopoly would be either Michael Laudrup or Antoine Kombouare. Either might suit, I think.

We are in for a highly nervous and crucial week.

The merits of those 4 individuals can be found here. Chris Hughton, Lee Clark, Michael Laudrup and Antoine Kombouare .

Interesting, to say the least.


What we need now is the confidence to accept that our Board, led by HJ, will again deliver us a Manager who they deem will suit Swansea City. There can be no guarantee of course that our new gaffer is going to succeed, but, what we can be sure of is that it won't be for a lack of effort from HJ and crew, or a lack of belief from us fans.

So that's our job. Let's get behind the Club and try to help in every which way to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Whomsoever the choice, he will have our absolute support, since that's the job of us fans.

We can continue to progress as well, if not better, than we have done in the past 8/9 years, of that I'm sure.

It won't be for lack of effort.

Onward, Swansea City.