Former Lincoln City and Notts County man Alan Sheehan has emerged as a favourite for the vacant Swansea City job, as reported by Yorkshire Live.
The 37-year-old is currently the interim boss at Swansea following Michael Duff’s dismissal last week. Sheehan has overseen two matches so far, with the Swans winning one against Rotherham (2-1) before picking up a point against Stoke City (1-1).
Those results have left the Swans 16th in the Championship table, just two wins short of Blackburn in eighth. It has also meant that Sheehan is in the running for the job behind Spurs coach Chris Davies and former Luton Town boss Nathan Jones. Sheehan, who worked closely with Jones at Southampton, refused to rule himself out of the running after this weekend’s fixture, which may have contributed to his recent popularity at the bookies.
“I’m meant to have a conversation tonight,” he told Wales Online. “I’ll have conversations with them (the Swansea bosses), and you’ll be the first to know.
“My work hasn’t really changed. I devote myself to the work that I do. No matter what role I am in for Swansea City, whether it’s manager or assistant, my work doesn’t change. I want the best for it.”
Sheehan’s impact has been noticeable with the Swans, and whilst he admitted there’s room for improvement, there’s a growing belief he could be the man to take them forward. He’s been with the club since June, having previously worked with Jones at both Luton and Southampton.
Prior to that, Sheehan wound down a playing career that saw him wear the colours of Leeds, Bradford, Notts County, and Luton, amongst others. He made 458 senior appearances after starting out at Leicester and was capped at Under 21 level by Ireland.
He finished his career with stints at Oldham, Northampton, and Lincoln City, a club he joined just days before the COVID-19 break, meaning he appeared just once for the Imps, giving away a penalty in his only outing.
The LNER Stadium must seem a long way away as he prowls the touchlines of the Championship, and as things stand, he will be in charge this weekend as the Swans host high-flying Middlesbrough. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be in the dugout beyond that.
Writer’s View
Bookies odds do not usually make a good indication of what is going to happen in the future, but there’s no doubt Sheehan is an up and coming coach who could step up to the hot seat if called upon.
He halted a Swansea slide after Duff’s dismissal and has steadied a ship that looked to be sinking, but that is only over a two-game spell. If he is in charge at the weekend, and if they were to win that fixture, then perhaps his case would be stronger.
A more likely outcome is Welshman Jones takes over, Sheehan drops to assistant and together they seek to replicate the success they enjoyed at Luton Town.
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