This time of year was always likely to present the first big test for Swansea City's new regime.

Chairman Andy Coleman has talked a good game since this exchange of power, but details around exactly why supporters should be excited by this new chapter have so far been pretty scarce.

With that in mind, January and the mid-season transfer window was always likely to be important in helping to set the tone and for new ownership group.

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Early moves have been made. The club are understood to be working on a move for Wales international Joe Low ahead of the new year, and should Swansea end the window with a stronger squad, it would undoubtedly be a boost to their fledgling hopes of a top-six finish, and perhaps offer up a statement about the direction of the club under Coleman, Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen.

However, they may well have to face up to a challenge they previously may not have bargained for.

The rumours around possible interest in Luke Williams, and the resulting uncertainty, clearly won't help the club's efforts in the January window. The comments made by the Swans boss after the win over Luton Town have done little to stop the whirring of the rumour mill.

While distancing himself from the links, Williams seemed to stop short of ruling anything out, even suggesting, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that the Baggies were welcome to ring up his agent if they really were interested.

At this point, it's worth stressing that at the time of writing there has been no indication of any interest from West Brom. Nor is there any suggestion that the Baggies are preparing any sort of approach.

Williams himself said he didn't think the rumours were true, a statement backed up by sources in the Midlands.

Clearly, however, the landscape can change pretty quickly, and the bookies are still backing Williams as being among the front-runners to succeed Carlos Corberan.

Williams stated he felt there was still some road to run on his 'journey' with the Swans, comments which might well bring the ambitions of the the new ownership group into sharper focus.

"I didn't come here to be average," was one of several standout soundbites in the wake of the disappointing collapse at the hands of Sunderland earlier this month, a comment that alluded to his fierce determination to try to get this club back among the promotion conversation.

It's felt a lofty ambition at times, particularly on the back of the summer window, which while yielding the arrival of some genuinely exciting players, largely left the squad unbalanced and lacking in certain areas.

Williams has insisted there's enough quality to compete with the big hitters in this league, and in fairness they have remained competitive in all their games against the sides above them.

But despite this squad frequently receiving the backing of their boss, there's clearly room for improvement in terms of options, and if this ownership is serious about keeping Williams on board, assurances over the project will clearly need to be made. For what it's worth, it's understood the hierarchy share Williams' ambitions for the most part, with a return to the Premier League ultimately the end goal for Coleman and co.

However, marrying up the visions of the two parties in terms of how to deliver those ambitions might well be key to Williams' future, regardless of West Brom's interest or not.

A successful transfer window would clearly go a long way to demonstrating their intent. So too would keeping star man Harry Darling, whose contract situation has already been allowed to drag on for too long.

Tying him down will be one thing, but Williams will surely want fresh assurances that this situation won't be allowed to happen again if his dedication to this 'journey' is to remain unblemished.

After all, last summer we were in the exact same situation, with Kyle Naughton, Jamie Paterson and Joe Allen all out of contract. Williams wanted to keep all of them. He got two of them.

It's perhaps for that reason that he's keen to see players like Josh Key tied down to long-term deals already.

Tying down the boss himself to a new deal certainly wouldn't do the project any harm, and would be a real statement of support heading into the second half of the season.

Coleman has often stressed the importance of togetherness in allowing the club to progress. Now is arguably the perfect opportunity to practice what he's been preaching.