Toshack's Thoughts On A New Manager

Former Swansea City boss John Toshack has shared his thoughts on Welshmen Gary Speed and Chris Coleman - who have both been linked with the manager's job.

Gary Speed, currently a coach at Sheffield United, was strongly linked with replacing Roberto Martinez 12 months ago, but the Swansea City board chose Paulo Sousa instead.

Sousa's reign ended earlier than expected, and the Swans may look to go back to Speed - another young, inexperienced manager to take over the squad. Going for someone young and inexperienced hasn't done the club wrong in recent seasons. Martinez transformed us and won us promotion to the Championship - and developed us into a good second tier side. Sousa then followed and helped us consolidate our strong status in the Football League.

So far, the likes of Gareth Southgate, Gus Poyet and Paul Tisdale have distanced themselves from the job, and Gary Speed is most likely one of the strong favourites amongst the fans. Other names mentioned, such as Jim Magilton and Iain Dowie are not popular choices amongst supporters. Sean O'Driscoll and Graeme Jones have also been mentioned, but would they leave their respected clubs to join us?

Toshack commented on the possibility of appointing Gary Speed, he told BBC Sport:

'Gary has been around a long time but hasn't been the number-one man yet,'

'Maybe now is the right time for him, he would know the area, he's Welsh... so maybe if he was approached.'

'If the people at Swansea felt that would be the right choice, well I think maybe it's the time for Gary now to go in and be his own man,'

'But he's at Sheffield United at the moment and we don't really know what his thoughts are.'

Chris Coleman has, of course, been linked again with his hometown club. Toshack said:

'Chris has got experience of management, obviously things didn't go too well for him at Coventry if we're honest,'

'His [previous] job, at Real Sociedad in Spain, he was the victim of very, very difficult circumstances there, it was virtually impossible for him to carry on.'

'Colin Pascoe and Alan Curtis... are very capable lads, Swansea lads through and through,'

'So hopefully they'll be able to get on with things, keep the players ticking over at this time of year.

'But Swansea need to be thinking about making an appointment as soon as possible; I wouldn't rule out them letting those two get on with it for a while to be honest, stranger things have happened.

'The difficult thing with this is the timing of it, just back in training now.

'Normally... you've got your pre-season plans set and ready, and for this to happen to Swansea again right at the beginning of it obviously throws [the club into disarray].

'For the chairman as well, who I know has worked very, very hard there, the way the last two managers have gone - Martinez and Sousa - will have been a little bit disappointing for them.'