LIBERTY EX? MANAGER MONK ON BRINK

Garry Monk was last night locked in talks with chairman Huw Jenkins, with the end of his Swansea City tenure on the agenda, writes Chris Wathan.

The club’s hierarchy are believed to be ready to make the decision to part ways with the 36-year-old following a run of form that has plunged the club towards the Premier Leage drop zone.

And with the performance of players during a 3-0 home defeat to Leicester leaving Monk an isolated figure, club bosses are now on the brink of a decision they’re loathe to make.

Monk is thought to have lost the short-term support of the majority, if not all, of the Swans’ directors with an acceptance time has run out on their hopes for him to turn around the side’s fortunes, with bookmakers suspending betting on him being the next Premier League manager to lose his job.

It is thought Monk was in discussions with Jenkins – the man who appointed him to replace Michael Laudrup in a shock move in Febru- ary 2014 – about his future. Players did not train on Monday and were in the dark over the fate of their boss, although it is not known if it was a scheduled day off.

Monk had already stated he had no intention of quitting his post after 22 months in charge, the club facing a compensation bill of around £3m if they were to bring the axe down on the former defender who first linked up with the Swans in 2004.

As reported yesterday, it is understood the club has already started to make informal moves to find a replacement, with Brendan Rodgers a genuine target.

However, it is deemed unlikely that Rodgers will want to return to Swansea this early in his career with an awareness that it would be perceived as an admission he is not capable of managing at a big club following his Liverpool exit.

David Moyes was not thought to be on Swansea’s agenda but Rangers boss Mark Warburton is thought to have been made aware of Liberty interest, though he is not believed to be a No.1 choice.