O'Dea in charge with Swansea boss search 'ongoing'

O'Dea in charge with Swansea boss search 'ongoing'

Assistant boss Darren O'Dea has been placed in "interim charge" of Swansea City as the Welsh club's wait to appoint a permanent successor to Alan Sheehan continues.

Swansea have been in negotiations over a deal to make Maritimo's Vitor Matos their new head coach having missed out on top target Kim Hellberg.

They had hoped to have a new management team in place for Saturday's trip to Bristol City having sacked Sheehan nine days ago.

Swansea did not initially appoint a caretaker boss following Sheehan's departure, but now say O'Dea, his number two, has taken the reins.

"Swansea City can confirm Darren O'Dea will be in interim charge of the men's first team while the recruitment process for a new head coach remains ongoing," a club statement said.

"The 38-year-old will lead the Swans following the departure of head coach Alan Sheehan, and will be assisted by Martyn Margetson, Kris O'Leary and Richard Stearman.

"As previously outlined, the club will update supporters further on the head coach recruitment process once an appointment has been made."

O'Dea left his role as professional player pathway manager and B team coach at Celtic to become Sheehan's number two in May.

The former Republic of Ireland defender worked briefly as under-18 coach at Motherwell before taking the same role at Celtic in 2019.

O'Dea has never managed a team at senior level.

Stearman – who was also brought to Swansea by Sheehan – and club stalwart O'Leary were first-team coaches under Sheehan, while Margetson is the club's head of goalkeeping.

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Swansea, who are 18th in the Championship having won only one of their past seven league games, have given no indication as to whether the interim coaching team will still be in charge when they host Derby County next Tuesday.

The Swans initially targeted Hellberg as a replacement for Sheehan but the Swede is instead set to be named Middlesbrough boss.

Former Liverpool coach Matos then became the leading contender to take over at Swansea, but as yet no deal has been agreed for the 37-year-old Portuguese.

Matos signed a two-year contract at Maritimo in the summer, meaning Swansea are likely to have to pay compensation to the Portuguese second-tier club to secure his services.

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