West Brom next manager latest as Luke Williams speaks out on 'absurd' links
Swansea City manager Luke Williams has himself this afternoon dismissed speculation linking him with the managerial vacancy at West Bromwich Albion. Williams has been the odds-on favourite with many bookmakers to replace Carlos Corberan, who departed The Hawthorns on Christmas Eve, but it's understood that he was never a serious candidate for the role.
Williams, who guided Notts County back to the EFL before moving for Swansea to replace Russell Martin last season, has Swansea well placed in 12th with nine wins from their 25 matches so far this campaign - six points behind Albion, ahead of welcoming them to the Liberty Stadium for a Saturday lunchtime kick off.
The ex-Swindon boss will come up against interim triumvirate Chris Brunt, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill on the touch-line in South Wales, as Albion's hierarchy - led by sporting director Andrew Nestor - continue their hunt for Corberan's successor away from the action on the field of play. Clearly, it's not going to be Williams' silhouette which next emerges on the Hawthorns' touch-line.
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"As I said, I thought it was a wind up," he told Wales Online. "I’ve heard nothing. I’ve probably not taken it as seriously as I should have. Someone sent me a screenshot saying I was having conversations and that my agent was talking to them. Don’t waste your money [betting on it]. Absolutely nothing in it. I thought it was absurd.
"I’ve not only been here one year. We’ve only just secured Ben Cabango. Cullen and Allen are in the national team. I’m sorry if I didn’t take it seriously enough, but I thought it was quite funny. I’m glad it’s over and I want to make Swansea as good as they can possibly be.
"I was perhaps the last to know. I’m not on social media so I don’t have a big network. It’s all come as a bit of a shock. There’s been no contact whatsoever. So I'm not sure how it’s got to the level it got to with the bookmakers deciding I was halfway down the road."
