Monk’s job at risk after loss of faith
GarrY MOnK’S job at Swansea is under review and Sportsmail understands club chiefs are keen for the manager to hire an experienced coach to help him halt the alarming slump at the liberty Stadium.
Monk’s future has been plunged into uncertainty since the 1-0 home defeat by Stoke on Monday night.
He missed training unexpectedly on Tuesday, though Swansea sources insist his absence was for personal reasons. Staff feared he would miss yesterday’s session, too, when Monk was not at the training ground as the squad arrived before 9am.
Swansea moved to deny suggestions Monk did not turn up for work yesterday by posting a photograph of him talking to Swansea players on social media.
But club sources claim it is unusual for ‘workaholic’ Monk not to arrive at the training ground before the players assemble.
it remains to be seen whether Monk would consider drafting in a coach to his backroom team. The club declined to comment on this yesterday.
Pep Clotet, who has worked in Spain and Scandinavia, is Monk’s assistant, but it is understood the introduction of a coach with Premier league experience has been discussed.
it would be a big decision for chairman Huw Jenkins to sack Monk. The 36-yearold signed a three-year contract in the summer and it would cost the club at least £3.5million to axe him.
Jenkins also knows how Swansea supporters revere Monk for the 11 years he has spent at the club, being a key player in the club’s epic rise to the Premier league before taking the managerial reins. However, the Swans have won just twice in the league this season, and are on a six-game winless streak.
Monk has established a reputation as one of the brightest young British managers during his time in charge at the liberty Stadium and aston Villa will consider a move for Monk if they sack Tim Sherwood. Coincidently, Swansea face Villa on Saturday.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper lukasz Fabianski has hit out at critics for trying to unsettle the club. The Swansea keeper insists there are no problems in Monk’s squad after bookies slashed the odds on him leaving yesterday.
Fabianski said: ‘it would be wrong for people to start creating something like there is tension in the group.
‘it’s a difficult period but we have to stick together and help the club in the best way possible.’