Swans set to go for Davies when Martin finally makes Southampton move

It’s looking like time at Leicester City, Liverpool and Celtic along with the Swans themselves will be enough to secure Chris Davies his crack at management as he becomes the man that is lined up to take over from Russell Martin.

Martin is still expected to complete a move from SA1 to Southampton at some point in the near future despite the delays that have seen now almost three weeks pass since he was first expected to complete the move.

It seems thought that those delays have come to an end and it will be Davies that the Swans turn to with although no formal deal has yet been agreed to sign up the man who first came to Swansea under Brendan Rodgers in 2010.

That first spell of course coincided with our ride to the Premier League and the ownership group at the club clearly hope that his second time around here will result in similar success as he is set to cut his ties with Rodgers who he has followed since their time together at Swansea.

It is likely though that it is the former Swansea boss who has helped his right hand man make this decision and there is every possibility that he has spoken to the owners of Swansea City as well which has potentially helped them reach this decision.

It will be a first crack at management for Davies who at the age of 38 will become one of the youngest managers in the top four divisions.  He was capped for the Wales at U-17, U-18 and U-19 level but had to retire through injury at the age of just 19.    He then began studying for his UEFA coaching licences while also attending Loughborough University. He worked in various youth coaching roles, including at Reading, Leicester City and clubs in the United States and New Zealand.

He moved to Swansea to work with Brendan Rodgers at the age of 25 and since then has worked under the Northern Irishman in his spells at Liverpool, Celtic and most recently at Leicester City before they both departed back in April.

“At the age of 19, I picked up a nasty injury to my left foot,” Davies told the Coaches Voice when reflecting back on his career.  “I was in a cast for a few months, but when I returned to training I struggled badly. The next move was to see a specialist in Harley Street, who told me I should look at other routes in life. I was devastated.

“My contract at Reading came to an end, and that was that. I had been playing for Wales in the national youth team and the Reading reserves, and I’d played for the first team in a friendly. I’d felt close to an opportunity, but my dream was over.”

Suggestions/Rumours emerged on Friday that Ryland Morgans is wanted by Davies on the coaching staff.    They spent time together at Liverpool and during Davies’ time here in Swansea and know each other well.   He was a fitness coach for Rodgers at Anfield and told the Bleacher report back in 2013 “I work very closely with Brendan, discussing the fitness of the players, conditioning aspects of training, preparation aspects of training. We also look at where players are physically, in relation to upcoming matches.”

So what kind of manager will the Swans get in Davies?    The best way is to let him explain in the same interview  “I want an organised club that can be aligned with my vision. I feel I’ve proven myself as an assistant at the top level, and now I’m ready to make that next step into an exciting future. Alternatively, I may continue as an assistant for a while longer, depending on what opportunities arise.

“I want to create an environment at a club where there is ambition to improve and to be successful, and enjoy what we’re doing while we do it. I’ve got a burning desire to win, and to do so at the top level.

“I put a lot of detail into my work, but I also want my players to have the creative freedom to express themselves. I want a structure, on and off the pitch, that gives players the tools and space to flourish.

“Controlling the game with the ball will always be central to my philosophy but, just like the Liverpool and Leicester teams I worked with, I want a degree of tactical flexibility to adapt to different opponents and different situations. I’m a pragmatic person, and I feel that transfers into my coaching. It’s about being an effective team.”