[themaclad]

Swansea City have appointed Notts County boss Luke Williams as their new head coach on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Williams succeeds Michael Duff, who was sacked by the Championship club on 4 December.

Williams returns to Swansea having been on the club's staff under Russell Martin during the 2021-22 season.

The 43-year-old leaves Notts County with the club sitting fifth in League Two.

"As I have said previously, we have undertaken a diligent and detailed process to find our next head coach," said Swansea chairman Andy Coleman.

"I have been fortunate to spend a lot of time with Luke recently. I have looked him in the eye and know that we can trust Luke to be a coach and leader who is aligned with our vision for Swansea City.

"He fits right into the mould of other talented and ambitious young managers who have succeeded here. I am confident our supporters will be excited by and proud of this Luke Williams-led Swansea City team."

Williams' assistant Ryan Harley also make the moves from Meadow Lane back to south Wales, having had a brief spell at Swansea during his playing career.

Notts County's first-team coach analyst George Lawtey is also joining Swansea in the same role.

Swansea have agreed a compensation package with Notts County in order to secure the trio's services.

Williams and Harley are to work alongside Alan Sheehan, who has been caretaker boss since Duff departed, but now reverts to senior assistant coach role.

Luke Williams on the touchline at Notts County last season
Luke Williams' Notts County side broke numerous club records last season, including their highest points tally, most wins and most goals scored
Fellow assistant coach Kristian O'Leary and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson will also remain at the club.

London-born Williams led Notts County to promotion from the National League in his one full season in charge, the Magpies triumphing in the play-offs after losing out to Wrexham in an epic title race.

Williams is regarded as a high-quality coach who, crucially, is committed to playing the sort of possession-based game Swansea are keen to restore having been criticised for their style of play during Duff's unsuccessful reign.

Duff, who won only five of his 19 league games at Swansea, was dismissed less than six months after being named successor to Martin.

Sheehan then steadied the ship, taking 11 points from seven matches at the helm.

Williams took charge at Notts County in the summer of 2022 and signed a new contract with the club in January 2023.

Having seen his hopes of a professional playing career ended by injury as a youngster, Williams spent time working in a warehouse and as a driver before he began coaching at Leyton Orient and then West Ham.

His big coaching break when he became under-21 boss at Brighton, when Gus Poyet was in charge, before he moved into senior coaching at Swindon Town, where his time as manager ended after relegation to League Two in 2017.

Williams then coached Bristol City's under-23s before working alongside Martin, first at MK Dons and then Swansea.

Luke Williams and Russell Martin during their time together at Swansea
Luke Williams (right) worked alongside Russell Martin (left) at Swansea and MK Dons
He left in February 2022 with Swansea citing personal reasons, before returning to football at Notts County.

Williams was on Swansea's list of potential replacements for Duff from the outset, although Tottenham Hotspur's senior assistant coach Chris Davies was initially their top target.

But having looked close to taking over at Swansea, Davies opted to stay at Spurs.

That left the Swans to reassess their options, which in part explains why it has taken 32 days for the club to appoint a new boss.

"We know Luke can coach the style of play we want, in part because he was an integral part of delivering it here in training sessions when he was an assistant," said Swansea sporting director Paul Watson.

"Luke's ability is also backed by the data and results. He is a great fit for Swansea City and our ambitions."

Following their 1-0 New Year's Day win over West Bromwich Albion, Swansea sit 16th in the Championship and are eight points adrift of the top six.

Williams' first game in charge will be Saturday's home FA Cup third-round tie against Morecambe, who his Notts County side thumped 5-0 in League Two last week.

He leaves the Midlands club seven points adrift of an automatic promotion spot in the fourth tier.

[themaclad]

Head coach Luke Williams has left Swansea City after a run of seven defeats in the club's past nine Championship matches.

Williams departs after 13 months in charge with Swansea 17th in the second tier, eight points clear of the bottom three with 13 fixtures remaining this season.

Assistant head coach Ryan Harley and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey have also left their roles.

Assistant head coach Alan Sheehan has been named caretaker boss for a second time "on an interim basis", with Swansea saying the search for a permanent successor to Williams is "already under way".

Sheehan will work alongside coach Kristian O'Leary and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson, with Swansea next in action when Blackburn Rovers visit on Saturday.

"This was a difficult decision and one that has not been taken lightly," Swansea chairman Andy Coleman said.

"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."

Swansea have suffered an alarming slump in form since the turn of the year, with Saturday's 3-1 defeat at struggling Stoke City proving to be his last game in charge.

Swansea were only four points outside the play-off places in ninth after post-Christmas wins over Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town.

But they have since taken only four points from a possible 27, while they were also well beaten by Southampton in the FA Cup third round.

As well as the string of poor results, Swansea endured a miserable January transfer window, with the club missing out on numerous targets but sanctioning the sale of Matt Grimes – their captain and most influential player – to Coventry City.

Grimes' departure was a heavy blow to Williams, whose squad already had a number of deficiencies which have not been addressed.

Williams' relationship with some supporters took a dent amid speculation linking him with West Bromwich Albion in late December.

Williams eventually apologised to anyone who felt he had shown "a lack of commitment" by failing to rule out the idea of moving to The Hawthorns.

The Albion links came just when Swansea were looking like genuine contenders for a top-half finish in 2024-25, which would have been a laudable achievement given the club's budget and the players at Williams' disposal.

In the autumn, Williams had boldly talked up Swansea's play-off prospects having suggested – understandably – last September that it would be "silly" to say his inexperienced squad could compete "at the very peak" of the division.

Williams left Notts County to take over at Swansea in early January 2024, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract at a club where he had previously been part of Russell Martin's coaching staff.

The Swans were 16th in the Championship when he arrived, having taken 11 points from seven games under Sheehan during his previous spell as caretaker boss, which came following the sacking of Michael Duff in December 2023.

Despite some difficult days in the early part of his tenure, Williams led Swansea to a 14th-placed finish last May and set out this season hoping to make steady progress while developing the young players in his squad.

He was on course to achieve those goals until the collapse in 2025 which has prompted his exit.

Williams goes just as Richard Montague, who he worked with at Notts County, takes up the role of director of football at Swansea.

Williams felt Montague's arrival would assist Swansea's off-field operations, having been critical of the club's failings in the mid-season window.

After Blackburn, Swansea have 10 days without a fixture before they go to Preston on 4 March.

"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," Coleman added.

Swansea, meanwhile, have postponed a much-anticipated fans' forum which had been due to take place on Tuesday, 18 February until Monday, 3 March.

Williams and Coleman had been due to answer supporters' questions at the event, but Swansea say they have put it back as a result of Williams' exit.

[St Charles Owl]

Got to say when we played them at their place last week they were dreadful, absolutely no energy and very little in the way of creativity. Not surprised he has been fired.