Hungry and ambitious Duff wants Swans to be counted 

Having only spent just under a week with the first team squad, it is early days for Duff to assess his new side fully but feels after a high-intensity training camp in La Finca, Spain he has the foundations to move the club forward. 

The former Barnsley and Cheltenham Town number one is clearly a manager with a vision to move on in the game with ambitions of reaching the Premier League within his three-year contract the target.  

Pragmatic in approach, Duff, excited by the challenge of taking over the reigns at the Swansea.com Stadium, is fully aware of the challenges he faces that have been encountered by previous personnel in the hot seat.  

The Northern Irishman feels, however, with his stamp on the team the Swans can emulate their strong finish to the season under Martin which saw a place-off spot missed by just three points after a strong nine-match unbeaten run to finish the campaign. 

“I am ambitious and hungry. I understand there is an expectation. I have only managed two football teams but if anyone watched they would say they played good football,” said Duff. 

“As a youngish British manager who hasn’t had a stellar playing career the best way of getting into the Premier League is by taking a club with you. It is one of the reasons I am here. 

“It is easy to say, but not so easy to do. It will depend on recruitment, creating the right culture and that team mentality that if the team wins, we all win. The supporters then are happy, the players are happy, the chairman is happy, and I am happy. 

“I’m a firm believer that hard work pays you back. Football doesn’t owe you anything, so whether you have had a good career or bad career, young or old, the moment you think you have football worked out, you don’t. 

“I thought though this is a good opportunity. When you look at the foundations that are already here in terms of facilities and the stature of the club, I felt I could do something with it and move the club forward. 

“You look at the managers that have come through here. It isn’t just a good breeding ground for young players to develop and move on, it is the same for managers. 

“It was a difficult decision to leave the club I was at [Barnsley], but they understood. I think it is a good fit here and hopefully, we can make it work. I have a good feeling. 

“I’m a firm believer that talk is cheap, you don’t have to shout from the rooftops, I have quiet determination. I think the infrastructure is here. 

“There are loads of good footballers here. I will try and evolve the way we play a little bit in terms of adding some physicality and pace into it. 

“Most people would say my teams are fit, strong, organised and play different types of football. They can play but I don’t want people thinking they are just good footballers, but we can beat them up. I want them to be strong and be counted. This is all talk but is a giver at any football club to be successful. 

“I see the game slightly differently with it being played more off the front foot and a little bit more aggressive at times in the press. We want to play good football and entertain the fans just with a little bit higher octane. 

“In terms of formation and personnel, we are a long way from that, but I don’t want to change too much. Russell [Martin] did a good job and played a really good brand of football. 

“It is about being able to evolve it from being good in possession, out of possession and in transition. Those are the bits I am trying to tweak. I am not going to make very good footballers, people like Grimesy [Matt Grimes] change as players. It is evolving into what I think is a good base. 

“I don’t like talking about philosophy or what I want to do. It’s about getting the team to win whilst playing attractive football, that’s the key. I won’t let one be the detriment of the other. 

(Lead Image: Swansea City FC)