Head coach leaves Swansea
Luke Williams has departed Swansea City after an awful run of form that saw them lose seven of their last nine matches.
Williams leaves after just over a year in charge, with the Swans sitting 17th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone with 13 games remaining. His departure is accompanied by the exits of assistant head coach Ryan Harley and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey.
Author - Mark Milward
Assistant head coach Alan Sheehan has been placed in temporary charge for a second time, with the club confirming that the search for Williams' successor is "already under way."
Sheehan will be supported by coach Kristian O’Leary and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson as Swansea prepare for Saturday’s home clash with Blackburn Rovers.
A dramatic decline
Williams’ exit comes after a dramatic downturn in form since the start of 2025. At the turn of the year, Swansea looked well positioned for a potential play-off push, sitting ninth and just four points off the top six following wins over QPR and Luton Town.
However, a disastrous run of just four points from a possible 27, including a 3-1 defeat at struggling Stoke City last weekend, sealed Williams’ fate. The team’s struggles extended beyond the league, as they were also comfortably beaten by Southampton in the FA Cup third round.
Adding to the difficulties, Swansea endured a frustrating January transfer window. The club failed to land several key targets and sanctioned the departure of captain and talisman Matt Grimes to Coventry City—a decision that severely weakened Williams’ already thin squad.
A fractured relationship with Swansea fans
Williams had come under increasing pressure from supporters, particularly on social media, during the final weeks of his tenure. His relationship with the fanbase was further strained in late December when he was linked with the vacant West Bromwich Albion job.
Although he later apologised for not immediately dismissing the speculation, the uncertainty disrupted Swansea’s momentum at a time when they appeared on course for a top-half finish—an achievement that would have been impressive given the club’s modest budget and squad depth.
Williams had previously been bullish about Swansea’s play-off chances, despite admitting earlier in the season that it would be unrealistic to expect his young squad to challenge at the very top of the division.
What next for Swansea?
— Super News Affiliate (@sup3rnew5affiliate.bsky.social) 17 February 2025 at 17:38
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What's next after a tenure that promised so much more?
Appointed in January 2024 on a three-and-a-half-year deal, Williams arrived from Notts County, having previously worked as part of Russell Martin’s coaching team at Swansea. At the time of his arrival, the Swans were 16th in the table, having taken 11 points from seven games under caretaker boss Sheehan following Michael Duff’s sacking.
Despite some early struggles, Williams guided Swansea to a respectable 14th-placed finish last season and set his sights on steady progress, with an emphasis on developing young talent. However, the collapse in 2025 has forced the club to act.
His departure coincides with the arrival of Richard Montague as Swansea’s new director of football—someone Williams had hoped would improve the club’s off-field operations following the shortcomings of the January window.
Now, with a 10-day break after the Blackburn fixture before a trip to Preston on 4 March, Swansea must regroup quickly as they look to salvage their season under new leadership.
