Growing unrest at Swansea makes Laudrup’s job far from safe
Published:Last season, Michael Laudrup must have found life at Swansea City rather plush. A ninth placed finish in the Premier League, their highest since 1981, and a triumphant run in the Capital One Cup saw the Dane praised for his work with the Welsh club.
However, fast forward to little over half a season into his second campaign at the helm and the situation looks polar opposite to the joy he experienced last time around.
Swansea have won just five league games this season and sit 15th in the table, just three small points separating them from the relegation zone.
In fact, since their 5-0 win over Bradford at Wembley the Swans have collected just seven league wins in total, with no real signs of improvement rearing its head.
It makes the 11/1 about them being relegated into the Championship rather tempting this season, especially with continued participation in both the FA Cup and Europa League distracting their focus.
However, the far more secure-looking, long-term bet on the Liberty Stadium club surrounds the future of their manager, with the Sunday Express claiming that Laudrup will not be sticking around in south Wales too much longer.
The former Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid player is at loggerheads with Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins over the club’s transfer policy, a problem that arose last summer, while Jenkins is also concerned over the lack of results on the pitch.
Unrest among the squad, highlighted by the furious row Chico Flores and Garry Monk were involved in, also undermines Laudrup’s position as manager, a post that the Dane is 15/8 (shortened from 14/1) to leave next among his Premier League colleagues.
It’s thought Swansea were already preparing for life without their manager, expecting him to leave in the summer, but if results continue to go south Jenkins may decide that a change in direction before the season has ended would be far more beneficial.
