Swansea City sack Luke Williams one month after being forced to apologise to fans as former boss ruled out
Swansea City have sacked manager Luke Williams. The Swans’ decision comes two days after a 3-1 loss away to Stoke City. The loss to Stoke was Swansea’s eighth from their last ten games. Williams’ time as Swansea City manager is overGetty talkSPORT understands former Oxford United boss Des Buckingham is a contender to succeed Williams with the 40-year-old highly thought of by the board at Swansea. Buckingham has been out of work since being sacked by his boyhood club in December with Gary Rowett replacing him at the Kassam Stadium helm. However, it is understood that former Swans boss Russell Martin will not be returning to the club. Martin was sacked by Southampton in November. Williams departs with a record of 19 wins, 11 draws and 28 defeats from 58 games in charge. “Swansea City can confirm the club has parted ways with head coach Luke Williams,” a Swansea statement read. “Assistant head coach Ryan Harley and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey have also left the club with immediate effect. “Assistant head coach Alan Sheehan will assume the role of caretaker head coach on an interim basis. Alan’s coaching staff will also include Martyn Margetson and Kris O’Leary. “The process to appoint a new head coach is already under way, and the club will update supporters on an appointment in due course.” Swansea City chairman Andy Coleman said: “This was a difficult decision and one that has not been taken lightly. Luke has led the club through some challenging periods and we appreciate his hard work. “I am aware of the effort he and his staff have put in throughout the last 13 months for Swansea City. I want to personally thank Luke, Ryan and George for their dedication and the sacrifices they have made on behalf of the club. Williams departs with Swansea sitting 17th in the ChampionshipGetty “Unfortunately, since the turn of the year our performances and results have not been of the standard required at this level. Ultimately, that has led us to conclude a change is required in order to bring about an improvement in our showings on the pitch. “We will keep supporters informed of developments when we are in a position to announce a new head coach, while Alan, his staff and our squad focus on our upcoming fixtures.” Williams’ exit arrives one month after he apologised to the Swansea fanbase regarding a lack of clarity surrounding his future. The 44-year-old was the odds-on favourite to succeed Carlos Corberan at West Bromwich Albion. Despite the heavy links in the media, Williams was a concrete choice for the Baggies. However, it didn’t stop Swansea supporters from venting their frustrations regarding the uncertainty surrounding Williams. Williams was previously linked with a move to The Hawthorns but ended up stayingGetty “I apologise for that,” Williams said. “I think because there was no contact at all, I probably didn’t take it seriously. I’m very, very happy to be here and I couldn’t think of anything worse than walking away from this place. “I understand the reaction. Of course, I do. Absolutely. It’s quite right. 100 per cent right. “Today I got off the train in Swansea and the first person I saw said to me ‘Don’t go. Stay with us’. I was a bit surprised. Then the driver jumped out to help me put my bags in the boot and he said ‘You’re not going anywhere gaffer, are you?’, and I was just wanting to get to the training ground! “I’ve not done anything here yet. I’m very privileged to be here. Why I would want to walk away from that is beyond me. “So I apologise to anyone that felt I was showing a lack of commitment. I think my blasé approach was more that I just felt it was ridiculous that anyone would even suggest it. My apologies, and I totally understand any frustration. I completely understand that. “As I said to you after the Luton game, I thought it was just a wind-up,” he added. “I have heard nothing. There’s been no contact at all and probably I didn’t take it as seriously as other people. “I am not on social media so I am bit slow sometimes to pick things up. But then people are telling me they have stopped taking bets and this kind of craziness, then someone sent me a screenshot of someone saying my agent was having conversations and I was having an interview. “Don’t waste your money, don’t put a bet on. It’s better to go the bookmakers and bet that I’ll be in Uplands with the Jack Army drinking. “Absolutely nothing it in at all. Maybe I didn’t take it quite as seriously because I thought it was absurd that I might be interested. “I am glad that’s over and now we can try to make Swansea the best it can possibly be. That’s what I came here to do.” The Swans had fallen down the ladder after a poor run of form under WilliamsGetty “I’m definitely, definitely not going anywhere,” he added. “Unless I’m told to go somewhere! I feel l
Swansea City have sacked manager Luke Williams.
The Swans’ decision comes two days after a 3-1 loss away to Stoke City. The loss to Stoke was Swansea’s eighth from their last ten games.
talkSPORT understands former Oxford United boss Des Buckingham is a contender to succeed Williams with the 40-year-old highly thought of by the board at Swansea.
Buckingham has been out of work since being sacked by his boyhood club in December with Gary Rowett replacing him at the Kassam Stadium helm.
However, it is understood that former Swans boss Russell Martin will not be returning to the club.
Martin was sacked by Southampton in November.
Williams departs with a record of 19 wins, 11 draws and 28 defeats from 58 games in charge.
“Swansea City can confirm the club has parted ways with head coach Luke Williams,” a Swansea statement read.
“Assistant head coach Ryan Harley and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey have also left the club with immediate effect.
“Assistant head coach Alan Sheehan will assume the role of caretaker head coach on an interim basis. Alan’s coaching staff will also include Martyn Margetson and Kris O’Leary.
“The process to appoint a new head coach is already under way, and the club will update supporters on an appointment in due course.”
Swansea City chairman Andy Coleman said: “This was a difficult decision and one that has not been taken lightly. Luke has led the club through some challenging periods and we appreciate his hard work.
“I am aware of the effort he and his staff have put in throughout the last 13 months for Swansea City. I want to personally thank Luke, Ryan and George for their dedication and the sacrifices they have made on behalf of the club.
“Unfortunately, since the turn of the year our performances and results have not been of the standard required at this level. Ultimately, that has led us to conclude a change is required in order to bring about an improvement in our showings on the pitch.
“We will keep supporters informed of developments when we are in a position to announce a new head coach, while Alan, his staff and our squad focus on our upcoming fixtures.”
Williams’ exit arrives one month after he apologised to the Swansea fanbase regarding a lack of clarity surrounding his future.
The 44-year-old was the odds-on favourite to succeed Carlos Corberan at West Bromwich Albion.
Despite the heavy links in the media, Williams was a concrete choice for the Baggies.
However, it didn’t stop Swansea supporters from venting their frustrations regarding the uncertainty surrounding Williams.
“I apologise for that,” Williams said.
“I think because there was no contact at all, I probably didn’t take it seriously. I’m very, very happy to be here and I couldn’t think of anything worse than walking away from this place.
“I understand the reaction. Of course, I do. Absolutely. It’s quite right. 100 per cent right.
“Today I got off the train in Swansea and the first person I saw said to me ‘Don’t go. Stay with us’. I was a bit surprised. Then the driver jumped out to help me put my bags in the boot and he said ‘You’re not going anywhere gaffer, are you?’, and I was just wanting to get to the training ground!
“I’ve not done anything here yet. I’m very privileged to be here. Why I would want to walk away from that is beyond me.
“So I apologise to anyone that felt I was showing a lack of commitment. I think my blasé approach was more that I just felt it was ridiculous that anyone would even suggest it. My apologies, and I totally understand any frustration. I completely understand that.
“As I said to you after the Luton game, I thought it was just a wind-up,” he added.
“I have heard nothing. There’s been no contact at all and probably I didn’t take it as seriously as other people.
“I am not on social media so I am bit slow sometimes to pick things up. But then people are telling me they have stopped taking bets and this kind of craziness, then someone sent me a screenshot of someone saying my agent was having conversations and I was having an interview.
“Don’t waste your money, don’t put a bet on. It’s better to go the bookmakers and bet that I’ll be in Uplands with the Jack Army drinking.
“Absolutely nothing it in at all. Maybe I didn’t take it quite as seriously because I thought it was absurd that I might be interested.
“I am glad that’s over and now we can try to make Swansea the best it can possibly be. That’s what I came here to do.”
“I’m definitely, definitely not going anywhere,” he added.
“Unless I’m told to go somewhere! I feel like I’m just about getting started. I’m not going to walk out after the starter. The main course is coming.”
Prior to his stint at Swansea, Williams was in charge of Notts County where he helped them achieve promotion from the National League to League Two via the play-offs in the 2022/23 season.
In any other season, Notts County’s record-breaking points tally of 107 and 117 goals scored would have been more than enough to achieve automatic promotion.
But Williams and his side were up against Wrexham, who are owned by Hollywood duo Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
Despite the historic rivalry that season, Williams told the BBC in May last year about how Reynolds and McElhenney showed their classy side.
“They messaged me, but really heartfelt messages about congratulating me and the team for getting promoted,” Williams said.
“I’ve been on the documentary as well and then I messaged them when they got promoted this season, and they both message me back that day.
“They are so class. If you handle yourself like that, they’re not even trying to pretend, they are like, ‘No, we know we are putting absolutely everything into this to try to win and take no chances.’
“But they still show the respect to you. It’s difficult to feel anything but… I’m happy for them.”
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