SWANS MATCH HIT BY COVID
Swans left kicking their heels but Eustace edges closer
SWANSEA City players have been given the weekend off after their pre-season friendly with Bristol Rovers was cancelled. The Swans were due to face Joey Barton’s men at the Memorial Ground on Saturday afternoon, although the game was called off due to positive Covid-19 cases in the Swans camp.
It’s understood a total of three figures in the club’s first team bubble tested positive.
Concerns were raised on Friday, and the club sent off coronavirus tests by courier well before their proposed clash with Bristol Rovers.
After receiving news of the three positive cases early on Saturday morning, the club informed the
League One outfit of the situation before opting to call off the fixture in a bid to ensure the virus does not spread.
All other tests returned negative results.
The club are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with the English Football League and Public Health Wales while further testing will take place in due course.
Players have been given the weekend off and are expected to reconvene at their Fairwood training ground tomorrow.
They will be tested once again next week ahead of the proposed friendly contest with Forest Green Rovers on Wednesday night.
The club are hopeful that the fixture at the New Lawn will go ahead given that the squad and coaches will not be mixing over the course of the weekend.
Meanwhile, Swansea could appoint John Eustace as their new boss in the next 24 to 48 hours.
The 41-year-old – along with Steve Cooper and Cameron Toshack – made the final three in the interviewing process for the role when Graham Potter left in the summer of 2019.
Eustace is understood to have been at Queens Park Rangers’ pre-season clash with Manchester United at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium yesterday.
But following the conclusion of the Hoops’ clash with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, former Coventry City, Stoke City, Watford and Derby County midfielder Eustace was able to complete the final stages of his exit from the London outfit before formally being announced as Swansea’s new boss.
He is expected to take charge of his new club at Forest Green Rovers, with a press conference for his unveiling currently scheduled for Tuesday at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea face Southampton in their final friendly on Saturday, July 31 before starting their Championship campaign against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday, August 7.