The fact that this occurred only fifteen games into the season is a valid critique of contemporary football. However, the Swansea.com Stadium’s 4-1 loss to Ipswich on Saturday was the last straw in a season that has been, at best, lackluster and growing increasingly concerning for anyone with long-term goals for the team.

In actuality, it was more than just the outcome against Ipswich. Poor performances, tactical misunderstandings, and a mounting feeling that the dressing room had lost its spark all contributed to this. A decision that has been simmering for weeks was finally made on Saturday, which was just the season’s most dreadful performance.

It was the proper decision to sacrifice Sheehan. In addition to acknowledging the need for a return on investment following a summer of comparatively significant spending, it represents the club’s ambitions both on and off the field.

After Luke Williams departed in February, Alan Sheehan was requested to assume caretaker duties.

Although it had just finished a period of relative success with Michael Duff’s departure and Williams’ arrival, relegation was still a distinct possibility.

Sheehan didn’t simply assume control. He made use of them to guide the Swans toward a comfortable mid-table finish and away from danger. Many were left wondering what may have happened if the club had taken action against Williams sooner. That most likely contains a hint about yesterday’s occurrences.

The season ended with a five-game winning streak. Something that looked and felt different took the place of the dull, lifeless football that Williams had been serving up. A pattern emerged. There was purpose. It was supported by fans. Performances became better. And as a result of that momentum, the club decided to permanently employ Sheehan in April.

That will now go down in history as a poor choice. However, the club didn’t have many options at the time. Sheehan had brought about the necessary change, not because there were no other options. He had the support of most of the fans. His case was supported by the performances and outcomes.

Sheehan led us into the summer with a positive outlook, having secured a three-year deal. At least by our standards. And that hope continued to grow for some time.

A Hope-Sparking Summer
When the season ticked into its closed version in May, few Swans supporters were prepared for what transpired next.

We’ve been accustomed to transfer windows that felt frantic and reactive for years, particularly when deadlines were approaching. This time, though, it seemed as though there could have been a plan.

They took the first steps. Players showed up on a regular basis. And the tempo and intent of the club’s transfer business only served to bolster the optimism Sheehan had inspired throughout the last three months of the season.

Still, realism was required. It was always too soon to talk about a top six team, especially because most of the new players hadn’t been witnessed live by fans. However, this at least felt like a step forward from the catastrophe that had been Kaplan, Levien, and Coleman.

The warning signs were there, though. More hares running than they did should have been expected after a poor preseason showing. Despite the clear warning signs, confidence was maintained by a victory against Sheffield United in our opening home game and a few more August additions.

After Sheehan, What Happens?

In the upcoming days, a lot of decisions will need to be taken. Not only the person in charge of first team operations, which was conspicuously missing from the club statement yesterday. There aren’t many people about Fairwood because of the international window, but someone has to take charge.

Or does the apparent 24-hour turnaround indicate that a replacement strategy is already underway? I don’t think we’ve seen the whole picture yet, but something shifted between Monday and Tuesday. I think the decision to remove Sheehan from his position was made shortly after, if not before, the Ipswich game. However, we haven’t yet discovered the reason why the articles from Monday and Tuesday don’t line up.

The absence of distinct leadership in football operations is also revealed by Sheehan’s resignation. A managerial hunt is led by whom? Without a doubt, Tom Gorringe is involved. However, who else? Who is the expert? We can’t possibly include Adam Worth in this. The fact that one of Swansea’s early forum trolls is in charge of hiring is dubious enough. It would be a stretch to carry that over into a manager hunt. Perhaps the true need is for a football director. Someone in charge of managing football operations. It might succeed if you include a reputable coaching staff. You would need someone who has played through several game levels and is probably already available. There would be choices.

It was also announced yesterday that Jay Lefevre, Celtic’s head of football scouting operations, is going to Swansea. That begs the question. Does he collaborate with Worth? That seems most likely. However, does this also acknowledge that elevating an inexperienced individual to a senior position is an unsatisfactory experiment? This is another appointment and an acknowledgement that there is a gap in our leadership team that needs to be filled, regardless of Lefevre’s qualifications.

The summer recruitment should still be the subject of inquiries. We agree with the many who have stated that this team might perform better under a better manager. However, we’ll know if that assertion is accurate once the new management is in place. Although Alan Sheehan may have suffered the price for his actions, our spreadsheet-based hiring process is still in place even after his departure. Not at all.

I won’t make any name guesses. I have no doubt that talks have already taken place, and I am convinced that we will proceed quickly. That implies that we’re going after someone who is unemployed rather than employed, but that’s just a claim and not a promise.

We do know that the next choice will be a significant one. We’ve established a pattern of rapid managerial turnover, starting with Duff and continuing with Williams and Sheehan. That must be altered. We are pleading for stability. Constant change can only go in one direction, as we all know. The distance to League One is also greater than we would want to acknowledge. Ask people who have been there.

Today, all eyes are on Swansea City’s leaders. Can they demonstrate their ability to deliver? We’ll find out in time.