Inject new sporting blood for new year

THE current on- and off-field tribulations of the Swans brought to mind the excellent Western Mail interview with John Toshack before Christmas.

Toshack was scathing about the ludicrous money the players earn for doing very little. He also pointedly remarked that when his Swansea team defeated Preston to gain promotion to the old First Division there were no fewer than seven Welshmen in the team.

Tosh made the point that in those days “putting on the white shirt meant a lot to the players”. Many were from Swansea or the local area and felt a strong connection to the town, the club and the supporters. Even when losing, he said, they would still play with spirit and at least go down fighting. A far cry from the situation that has been allowed to develop in recent seasons where a gang of mercenaries, lacking motivation, local connection or shape seem content to do as little as possible and just pick up their astronomic wages.

It’s ironic indeed that despite having the best national side for nearly 60 years Wales’ two leading clubs cannot boast a single Welshman in their starting ranks, never mind anyone from Swansea or Cardiff. By contrast the Ospreys, who share the Liberty, have a squad largely drawn from within the region with many Swansea Jacks in their ranks including the skipper, Alun Wyn Jones. However, there is one common factor between the teams and that is the dreadful off-field leadership and coaching regime.

The Swans board, whatever the accusations of devious and incompetent off-field manoeuvring currently being levelled at them,

have at least had the gumption to sack a failing manager. Osprey supporters are seething with frustration at their board’s current ostrich-like refusal to remove a coach who is clearly out of his depth, with the result that the whole club is hurtling downward despite having some of Wales’ best and most promising players on its roster.

So my sporting hopes for the new year would be to see a few Swansea, or at least Welsh, players in the Swans’ line-up and a competent head coach or director of rugby installed at the Ospreys. I Seaton Mumbles, Swansea