Davies Delighted To Sign 2-Year Deal

Swansea City's young defender Ben Davies said he was 'absolutely delighted' to have signed a new 2-year deal with his local club.

The 19 year-old signed his first professional contract last year when Brendan Rodgers was manager, and his progress has been recognised further after he was offered a new deal to keep him at the Liberty Stadium until 2014.

Davies will now work with former defender Kristian O'Leary, who has now taken over Alan Curtis' role as the man to develop the youngsters into future first team players.

Davies says new manager Michael Laudrup has been great, and that he aims to follow in the footsteps of Joe Allen and Jazz Richards:

'The new manager has been great,'

'He's great to work with, but the first few days of pre-season have been tough.

'It's incredible to have a name like that around the club; it gives everyone a great buzz and all the players can learn from him.

'My ultimate aim is to break into the first-team but that's going to take a lot of hard work. It's great to have players like Joe and Jazz that have come through the ranks and up into the first-team and it is good incentive for us young lads in the squad.'

Talking about the new deal, Davies told the Official Site:

'I'm absolute delighted,'

'I was only expecting a year's contract if I was to get an extension, but when I find out I was getting two years I was over the moon.

'I feel as though I've definitely improved over the last year and it's great to be around this squad because they are all great players and I can learn a lot from them.'

Michael Laudrup is certainly getting things organised at Swansea City - ready for the new 2012/13 Premier League season. He's brought in Erik Larsen as his assistant manager with Alan Curtis promoted to First Team Coach. Replacing him will be former player Kristian O'Leary. Also appointed is Oscar Garcia, a fitness and conditioning coach. Meanwhile, changes to the playing staff sees Scott Donnelly leaving after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

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