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Luke Williams says sorry to Swansea City fans and makes feelings clear on West Brom job

-Credit:Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd
-Credit:Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd


Luke Williams has apologised to Swansea City fans, and admits he understands frustrations around recent comments made in the wake of speculation linking him with the vacancy at West Bromwich Albion.

Rumours have swirled all week amid suggestions that Williams was in the frame to succeed Carlos Corberan at The Hawthorns, with the flames further fanned by the Swans head coach's apparent failure to categorically rule out an move when previously quizzed by the press.

Williams is, at the time of writing, still odds-on favourite to take over at the Baggies, despite reports in the Midlands now suggesting that he isn't a name currently being considered by the club.

READ MORE: Luke Williams Q&A: My future at Swansea City and why I reacted the way I did

READ MORE: Tonight's Swansea City news as Luke Williams confirms contact over target and exit confirmed

It's understood there hasn't been any contact from West Brom, either with Swansea or Williams' representatives, but the rumours nevertheless built to a crescendo ahead of Saturday's game, which is ironically against the Baggies.

Some sections of the Jack Army have since expressed frustrations at the lack of clarity around the head coach's future, but Williams has now insisted he's committed to the Swans, and says he perhaps should have addressed the links more seriously.

"I apologise for that," he said. "I think because there was no contact at all, I probably didn’t take it seriously. I’m very, very happy to be here and I couldn’t think of anything worse than walking away from this place.

"I understand the reaction. Of course, I do. Absolutely. It’s quite right. 100 per cent right.

"Today I got off the train in Swansea and the first person I saw said to me ‘Don’t go. Stay with us’. I was a bit surprised. Then the driver jumped out to help me put my bags in the boot and he said ‘You’re not going anywhere gaffer, are you?’, and I was just wanting to get to the training ground!

"I’ve not done anything here yet. I’m very privileged to be here. Why I would want to walk away from that is beyond me.

"So I apologise to anyone that felt I was showing a lack of commitment. I think my blasé approach was more that I just felt it was ridiculous that anyone would even suggest it. My apologies, and I totally understand any frustration. I completely understand that.

"As I said to you after the Luton game, I thought it was just a wind-up," he added. "I have heard nothing. There's been no contact at all and probably I didn’t take it as seriously as other people.

"I am not on social media so I am bit slow sometimes to pick things up. But then people are telling me they have stopped taking bets and this kind of craziness, then someone sent me a screenshot of someone saying my agent was having conversations and I was having an interview.

"Don’t waste your money, don't put a bet on. It's better to go the bookmakers and bet that I'll be in Uplands with the Jack Army drinking.

"Absolutely nothing it in at all. Maybe I didn’t take it quite as seriously because I thought it was absurd that I might be interested.

"I am glad that's over and now we can try to make Swansea the best it can possibly be. That's what I came here to do.

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"I’m definitely, definitely not going anywhere," he added. "Unless I’m told to go somewhere! I feel like I’m just about getting started. I’m not going to walk out after the starter. The main course is coming."

The Swans boss is currently contracted to the club until 2027, and says he fully intends to see out that deal - as a bare minimum.

When asked if he planned to be here for the long haul, he replied: "Only if I am good enough. They are not going to put up with me forever if I don’t produce good football and try to get out of this division.

"I don’t expect them to. I expect to work every day to try to prove that I should be their manager. I would love to see the contract out as a bare minimum."