Swansea City

Swansea City
Management duo give Swans boost Swansea manager Kenny Jackett is close to agreeing a new contract, while assistant Kevin Nugent has signed a new one-year deal to the summer of 2006. Jackett signed a two-year contract after joining from QPR in the spring of 2004, and, having secured promotion this season, is set to stay longer. "Kenny and Kevin have worked very well together," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins told the South Wales Evening Post. "Kenny is very happy with how things have gone and so are we."

Curtis set for new role at Swans
Alan Curtis will take a hospitality job at Swansea City's new stadium in Morfa. Curtis, who has been associated with the club for 34 years since joining aged 17, lost his job as head of youth development at the Swans last month. "We wanted to make sure we retained his services in some capacity," club chairman Huw Jenkins told the South Wales Evening Post. "We hope to work with him for many years to come." Curtis' part-time role will see him lead a team of former Swansea players who will work on hospitality on match days and at other functions.

Darlington end interest in Connor
Darlington will not move for Swansea striker Paul Connor after finding out that a transfer fee is required. "I did speak to Swansea manager Kenny Jackett about Connor, but it ended there," Darlington manager Dave Hodgson told the club's official website. "I was misinformed or misled that the player had been freed. "He hasn't been freed and Swansea want a transfer fee for him. As far as I'm concerned that is out of the equation, without doubt."

Holt & Burgess still elude Swans
Swansea City have suffered fresh setbacks in their attempts to sign two of their main summer transfer targets. Improved bids of £80,000 for Rushden's Andy Burgess and £130,000 for Grant Holt of Rochdale have been turned down, much to Kenny Jackett's frustration. "We're not close to a deal for either player," said Swans manager Jackett. "The chairman, Huw Jenkins, has made very good offers for both which have been turned down. We'll wait and see if that changes over the next weeks." Burgess is on the transfer list at Nene Park, with Northampton and Oxford also thought to be interested in the midfielder. Holt scored 24 goals for Rochdale in League Two last season and the club have insisted they will not sell unless they receive "an offer we cannot refuse". If I could bring in one defender, two midfielders and one forward that would really strengthen us Swansea manager Kenny Jackett The ex-Sheffield Wednesday striker has yet to sign an extension to his current contract, which has just another 12 months to run. Jackett said he will consider the implications of this latest failure before deciding on his next step. "If there's a deal to be done close to where we are now then we will do it," he told BBC Wales Sport. "We'll just draw our breath now and if either club comes back to us and wants to pursue either deal then fine. "We've been quiet aggressive what we're trying to do and haven't been able to sign either player." Jackett says he has set his heart on adding "three or four players" to the squad that won promotion to League One last season. He added: "It's very important we look and see what else is around and available. "If we do suddenly go out of the financial parameters that we've set, it takes us into a new ball game of what players are available. "If I could bring in one defender, two midfielders and possibly one forward then that would really strengthen us."

Swansea fly in two Oz trialists
Swansea City have invited two promising Australian players to join the squad for pre-season training. Matthew Gordon and Ian Ramsey have been recommended to manager Kenny Jackett by a local agent, who will pay for the air fares and accommodation in Wales. "The agent's very confident that, although young, they can break through into English football," said Jackett. Defender Stewart Edwards will also return for a second trial spell after impressing Jackett last season. The 20-year-old defender was recently released by Leeds United, and played some reserve games at the Vetch last April. "He's a local lad. A right back or centre back, although he feels right back is his strongest position," Jackett told BBC Wales Sport. "He's had four years at Leeds and we felt that although we didn't see much of him, he was worth inviting back and could do something." The Aussie pair have both featured in the Australian Premier League and will arrive in Swansea on 27 June. Gordon is an attacking midfielder from Sydney Olympic who had a trail at Millwall last season, while Ramsey is former Sydney United forward. "I'm willing to back this agent and see whether over a week or two these two players have the type of potential that can take the club forward," added Jackett.

Bury cleared over crowd trouble
Bury will not be punished by the FA for the crowd trouble which marred their final game of last season at Gigg Lane. Questions had been raised over Bury's preparations for the sell-out match. The game was held up by pitch invasions from Swansea fans, but Bury say they have been praised by the FA for their "stewardship throughout the match". The FA's report has been sent to the FA of Wales, who could decide to charge Swansea goalkeeper Willy Gueret for being arrested at the end of the game. Gueret was led away from the stadium in handcuffs after arguing with police officers while celebrating his side's promotion to League One. The 31-year-old Frenchman was held at Bury police station for two hours and ordered to pay a £80 fixed penalty fine for a "public order offence".

Fulham snub Swans on Pratley bid
Fulham have rejected a request from new League One side Swansea to take Darren Pratley on loan next season. Midfielder Pratley, 20, impressed during a spell with Brentford last term but Fulham boss Chris Coleman believes he can play a part in the senior side. "I enquired about Pratley - a strong, box-to-box midfielder - but that one is a no-go at the moment," said Swans boss Kenny Jackett. "But there are a couple of others I've enquired about." Jackett may have another chance to try and persuade Swansea-born Coleman face-to-face on 23 July, when he brings his Premiership side to play Swansea in a pre-season friendly.

Swans not interested in Akinfenwa
Swansea City boss Kenny Jackett has pulled out of the race to sign unsettled Torquay United striker Adebayo Akinfenwa. He told the South Wales Evening Post: "I found out that because he is under the age of 24, a fee needs to be paid. "Had he been on a free I would have been interested, but it is going to need a fee or a transfer tribunal so that one has died a death." Akinfenwa, 23, has also been in talks with Bristol City. Torquay chairman Mike Bateson confirmed this week that the former Boston, Leyton Orient and Doncaster frontman has no future at Plainmoor. "Since talking to Bayo, I have had a long chat with boss Leroy Rosenior," Bateson told Torquay's website. "We are now disregarding Akinfenwa in terms of our future plans. Leroy will concentrate on building a team and I will focus on getting the best deal."

Jackett set to extend Swans deal
Swansea manager Kenny Jackett is set to sign a two-year contract extension to stay at the club until 2008. Having guided Swansea into League One, Swans bosses were keen to offer the former QPR and Watford assistant an extension to his current deal. "I sat down with the chairman (Huw Jenkins) last week and we'll formalise everything soon," Jackett said. "I'm away on a course next week completing my Uefa Pro licence, but hopefully it will be done soon."

Ricketts ready for Swansea talks
Swansea and Wales defender Sam Ricketts will meet the club this week to discuss a contract extension to 2008. When he signed for the Swans his deal had a clause allowing for renegotiation if the club gained promotion. "We are meeting this week and, hopefully, we can get things sorted," said Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins In 12 months, the 23-year-old has risen from non-league Telford to Swansea, the League Two team of the season, and Welsh international honours

Swansea confident of Burgess deal
Swansea City's long chase for Rushden and Diamonds midfielder Andy Burgess finally appears to be over. The club say they expect Burgess, who has eluded them since January, to sign for £80,000 in the "next 24 hours". "It's been quite a drawn out event but I think it'll prove worthwhile," Swans chairman told BBC Wales Sport. Jenkins revealed the club are also keen on Wrexham defender Craig Morgan and have had a £60,000 bid rejected by Fulham for midfielder Darren Pratley. "Fulham are keen to hold onto him over pre-season," explained Jenkins. "Naturally we'll keep perusing that until we hopefully succeed in getting a player Kenny Jackett rates very highly. "He's only 20 years old and hopefully over the coming weeks the situation will become clearer and we'll get our man." Burgess, 23, has scored 23 goals in nearly 200 appearances for Rushden since making his debut in 1999. Swansea had a £75,000 bid rejected back in January, but Rushden admitted defeat in their attempts to hold onto Burgess when he submitted a transfer request in May. "To get him signed and involved before pre-season training will be a big plus for us," added Jenkins. "To get the first player signed is important. We're happy with what we've got but we know we have to add probably three or four players to that. "Hopefully with the first finalised in the next 24 hours we can finalise the rest between now and the middle of July."

Swansea 'will soar under Jackett'
Manager Kenny Jackett will bring even more success to Swansea City, according to club chairman Huw Jenkins. Jackett has secured a two-year contract extension after he guided Swansea to promotion in his first full season. And Jenkins said: "I'm pleased I've been proved right that Kenny is the man to move the club forward. "We always knew it's a learning curve for him over the next few years. He learned a lot last year and he's going to build on that." Jackett, who added the FAW Premier Cup to League Two promotion, has verbally agreed to sign a new deal which will run until 2008. He took over from Alan Curtis - the caretaker manager following Brian Flynn's departure - in the Vetch hot-seat in April 2004. He became the club's sixth manager in just over two and a half years, but Jenkins believes the club will finally get some stability with Jackett in charge. "I've very pleased the new contract has been taken care of prior to the new season so we can all concentrate on the season ahead," Jenkins added.

Swansea handed difficult cup test
Swansea have been handed a tough draw in the first round of the Carling Cup after being drawn away to Reading. But the Swans came away with a 1-1 draw at the Madejski Stadium last season in the FA Cup, narrowly losing the replay 1-0 at the Vetch Field. Cardiff City are also away in the first round, to be played the week commencing 22 August, at Colchester United. Wrexham are the only Welsh side with a home draw, with Colchester's League One colleagues Doncaster the visitors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carling Cup first round draw: Preston v Barnsley Chesterfield v Huddersfield Blackpool v Hull Mansfield v Stoke Rotherham v Port Vale Nottingham Forest v Macclesfield Sheffield United v Boston Derby v Grimsby Leeds v Oldham Wrexham v Doncaster Scunthorpe v Tranmere Stockport v Sheffield Wednesday Bury v Leicester Rochdale v Bradford Hartlepool v Darlington Wolves v Chester Lincoln v Crewe Burnley v Carlisle Reading v Swansea Gillingham v Oxford MK Dons v Norwich Plymouth v Peterborough Shewsbury v Brighton Cheltenham v Brentford Northampton v QPR Millwall v Bristol Rovers Watford v Notts County Rushden & Diamonds v Coventry Bristol City v Barnet Colchester v Cardiff Torquay v Bournemouth Ipswich v Yeovil Southend v Southampton Crystal Palace v Walsall Swindon v Wycombe Leyton Orient v Luton Ties will be played on the week commencing 22 August. Clubs entering in the 2nd round: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Blackburn, Charlton, Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, West Ham, Wigan. Clubs entering in the 3rd round: Arsenal, Bolton, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle.

Swansea close on Goodfellow deal
Swansea have agreed contract extensions with six players and are close to signing long-term target Marc Goodfellow from Bristol City. Kevin Austin, Kristian O'Leary, Izzy Iriekpen, Leon Britton, Brian Murphy and player-assistant manager Kevin Nugent have all agreed new deals. Left wing Goodfellow impressed on loan last season and an improved bid seems set to prise him away from Ashton Gate. Goodfellow, 23, will undergo a medical on Wednesday before signing. Swansea are to take over Goodfellow's Bristol City contract, which has a year to run, while he will earn a further 12 months based on appearances. But manager Kenny Jackett may have to do without his other main midfield target, Andy Burgess, despite Swansea agreeing a fee of £90,000 with Rushden & Diamonds. The club has so far failed to agree terms with the 23-year-old, who is also thought to be a target for Oxford United.

Swansea move delights Goodfellow
Marc Goodfellow says that returning to Swansea fulfils his long-term ambition. The wing impressed at the Vetch in a loan spell over Christmas, but Bristol City recalled him as they sought a transfer fee for the 23-year-old. "I was just getting into my rhythm when I got called back," Goodfellow told the South Wales Evening Post. "Bournemouth have been keeping an eye on me for a few years and there was interest from Carlisle, but my heart was always set on Swansea."

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