Planet Swans ArchivesIzzy Iriekpen’s current deal expires on Tuesday after a three month spell with the club. Initially failing to win over all of the supporters, Izzy has put in some assured performances of late and fans will no doubt he hopeful that Flynn will be able to tie him to the Vetch for a longer period than just Tuesday.
Izzy himself says that he is keen to stay at the club and on Friday he told the Evening Post ”There’s no question as to whether or not I want to carry on playing for Swansea,’ I’ve loved it down here – the fans, the management and the rest of the players have all been great – it’s just that we haven’t finished talking. My agent has got a few things to sort out with the club, and I’m confident it will all go through okay. There are just a couple of details, that’s all, but I don’t expect it to be done before the start of next week”
The club have remained pretty quiet on the front of tying this player in and we will see over the course of the next 48 hours just how close those talks are to being completed but Izzy has grown to be one of the more essential parts of our squad make up.
Also due to come to the end of his Vetch spell is on-loan defender Alan Tate. Tate was signed at the end of last month but has looked as if he is capable of forming a solid partnership with Iriekpen at the back. Sometimes a little too laid back for his own good, Tate played a big part in our survival campaign of last season and has also given the impression that the defence is more solid with him in it than out of it. Flynn told BBC Sport: “I’ll be calling on Monday and – fingers crossed – they will remain with us”. They of course being Tate and Daniel Nardiello who has done little to impress the Swansea faithful during his time with the club. Flynn, however believes that he has something to offer “He’s a natural goal-scorer and I just don’t think we’ve been giving him the opportunities” he again told the BBC.
Nardiello’s inclusion in yesterday’s starting line-up increased speculation that there has been some kind of problem between last season’s leading scorer James Thomas and Flynn with Thomas being resigned to the bench for yesterday’s game despite seeing first choice partner for Trundle Kevin Nugent also sit out the start. Rumours have surfaced again of a falling out between the two players despite Thomas being out injured for long periods of the season so far and previous rumours have suggested that Thommo’s days at the Vetch may be numbered. Let’s hope not?
That aside, Flynn will want this week to be able to see the three players coming to an end of their Vetch deal staying for longer as the season approaches it’s halfway stage. With the club just four points off the top of the table, this is an excellent opportunity for the club to make progress and look for promotion at the end of the season.
Meanwhile tickets for the FA Cup tie against Stevenage and the Boxing Day trip to Torquay go on sale to season ticket holders tomorrow. On Thursday that sale will be extended to trust members whilst the general public will be able to purchase tickets for both games from next Saturday. The Stevenage tie is not all-ticket although stand season ticket holders are advised that their seat will only be reserved until Thursday. The ticket allocation for Torquay is 1600 of which 200 are seated.
