Swansea City: Opportunity knocks for Alan Sheehan’s men after undulating 2024-25

Across his two spells as Swansea’s caretaker boss, Sheehan banked 34 points from 19 games, an impressive return which was enough to secure the three-year deal he signed last week.

If Sheehan can reproduce that kind of form throughout 2024-25, Swansea will be gearing up for a play-off campaign in 12 months’ time.

But at this point, it is a big if.

For all the changes in the Swansea dugout in recent times, there has been an ongoing feeling that the playing squad has lacked the quality and depth to compete for a return to the Premier League.

Swansea do not have the financial clout to rival many second-tier clubs, meaning they must be clever when it comes to the transfer market.

They are in need of a good summer, which means a handful of players of Franco’s calibre arriving in Wales rather than the odd one.

Swansea require recruits with experience, too, having brought in so many untried players in recent windows and seen the likes of Joe Allen, Kyle Naughton and Cyrus Christie say their goodbyes this week.

Even if Swansea can get the majority of their transfer moves right, it would be silly – as it was last year – to argue Swansea could compete for a place at the top-end of the division.

But with Sheehan craving progress, a play-off push may not be too much to ask.