New Swansea City head coach Russell Martin has admitted he can give no guarantees star men Matt Grimes and Connor Roberts will stay at the Liberty Stadium. The frank assessment is likely to encourage the club’s Championship rivals they might be able to prise either away from the Swans on the eve of the new season. But Martin also insists the club can be competitive in the promotion battle and has dismissed suggestions momentum will wane after two play-off failures and the ending of parachute payments.

Look who’s back! The Football League kicks off the new season on Friday night when West Bromwich Albion travel to Bournemouth. Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport County are all in action for the first time on Saturday. So, what to expect from 2021-22? Fraser Watson suggests managerial experience of a particular league, on its own, is over-rated when it’s stacked against a whole load of other demands. In the immediate aftermath of Steve Cooper leaving Swansea City, a development seemingly inevitable and yet so untimely, discussion amongst supporters soon turned to his likely successor. Indeed, a mere hour or so after a club statement confirmed the departure, I sat in a golf clubhouse with three other regular hackers, who – perhaps oblivious to the financial constraints at the Liberty Stadium – banded about the predictable names.

New Swansea City manager Russell Martin has revealed he sounded out former boss Graham Potter before deciding to move to the Liberty Stadium. Martin has been appointed Swansea’s new head coach on a three-year deal, but needed to gain a positive reference for the club from Brighton manager Potter, who was in charge at the Swans before recently departed head coach Steve Cooper. “I spoke to Graham, and he spoke so highly of the club, of the people and of the area,” said Martin, who has moved from MK Dons.

Swansea City have turned their attention to new managerial targets – including former Chelsea assistant Jody Morris – after reportedly being snubbed by QPR’s John Eustace. The Swans are in a mess of their own making after parting company with former head coach Steve Cooper last week and revisiting links with Eustace, who was on their shortlist when Cooper was appointed two years ago. But despite interviewing the 41-year-old, Eustace has informed Swansea he is staying in west London.

Steve Cooper was encouraged to sign a new contract with Swansea City before it was mutually agreed he should leave, according to the club. The Swans – who have already been linked with QPR assistant manager John Eustace, Lincoln City’s Michael Appleton and MK Dons’ Russell Martin – confirmed on Wednesday evening that Cooper had left The Liberty Stadium after two years in charge. It’s a departure that seemed likely when the Swans failed to win promotion to the Premier League in May after losing their play-off final to Brentford after the Welsh head coach was linked with a number of other jobs.