Premier League: Who will be the next Swansea boss?

Ryan Giggs

Manchester United’s most decorated player ever was a shoo-in for the Swansea job a few months ago after ending his 26-year Old Trafford career.

But whether he interviewed badly (twice) or decided midway through the chat that he would rather let somebody else make a mess of it (again), Ryan Giggs was overlooked for Bob Bradley.

A spurned Giggs kicked the ground, saying in as many words that he didn’t want the job anyway because Swansea’s ambitions did not match his.

They might do now – especially as he can point to four matches in charge of United post David Moyes, two of which he won.

Rene Meulensteen, Manchester United’s former first team coach, believes Giggs would be well suited to Swansea.

“I don’t agree with Ryan not having management [experience]. He’s got his apprenticeship in his time as an assistant manager at Manchester United,” said the Dutchman.

[BRADLEY WAS DOOMED FROM THE START AT SWANSEA]

“Is it the right time for him? He has to start somewhere. And in many ways when he was linked with Swansea [in October], I thought it would be a really good club for him.

“The club needs to sort itself out now because it’s lost its stability and continuity it’s had over the last five or six years.”

Alan Pardew

The mixed bag that is Alan Pardew led Crystal Palace to the FA Cup Final this year but the Eagles’ Premier League form has stunk out Selhurst Park. No other team in the English football League have taken fewer points per game than them.

Hence 2017 looms and Pardew is out of work, replaced by Sam Allardyce.

But Pardew has plenty of experience in the top flight, and anyone who can manage Newcastle as long as he did in far more difficult circumstances could be worth a punt.

[SHORTEST MANAGERIAL REIGNS IN FOOTBALL EVER]

Chris Coleman

Chris Coleman played for Swansea from 1987-91, which as we all know was before the Premier League era so is not recognised as real football by millions of people or TV stations.

Central defender Coleman chalked up 196 appearances and netted three goals and spent his entire Swans career in the bottom two divisions, winning one promotion and two Welsh Cups.

The Wales manager might be put off jacking in his international job for the Liberty Stadium as the crisis-ridden Welsh club look set to be returning to those dark days – and The New Saints will probably win the Welsh Cup as well.

Roy Hodgson

From one Euro 2016 manager to another.

Former England boss Roy Hodgson has declared he wants to return to football and does not see himself too old at 69 as he stopped worrying about his age once he passed 45.

And before Swans fans start gnashing their teeth in anger and contemplate becoming Newport County supporters it is worth remembering that Hodgson took Fulham to the Europa League Final in 2010 and his three-year tenure landed him the Liverpool job.

And when the Anfield experience ended in a hail of Paul Konchesky confetti, Hodgson took over at West Brom a month later and not only did he keep them up but also won at Liverpool.

He guided the Baggies to tenth place the following season, their highest top flight finish since 1981 and on the strength of this he landed the England job…

So Hodgson does well at smaller English clubs, and less well at bigger ones like Liverpool and Blackburn whom he managed when they were Premier League big fish back in 1997.

And if he gets Swansea to the last 16 by May 2017 he will be hailed a hero…