The Irishman takes temporary charge of the first team side this weekend after a turbulent week for the club since the dramatic sacking of Michael Duff on Monday evening after a run of just one win in nine games.
Whilst in the background news broke today that an approach for Tottenham assistant head-coach Chris Davies had been rejected by the London club, Sheehan’s focus is purely on the task in hand for the coming weekend.
Last weekend’s draw with Huddersfield last had proved to be the undoing of Duff leaving the Swans languishing in 18th place in the table with their last victory coming back at the end of October at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers.
Coming into the busy festive period and a game that is a crucial six-pointer the match against a Rotherham side sitting second-bottom looks like a pivotal fixture which both sides will want to win to boost their relative ambitions for the season.
As the Swans look to get back to winning ways, Sheehan feels despite their position in the table Rotherham will be a tough test.
Having picked up recent credible draws against high-flying Ipswich Town and Leeds United in a four-match unbeaten run on their own patch under interim manager Wayne Carlisle, Sheehan wants the Swans to find the second gear he sees in training to start to look to put things right.
“It’s been a very difficult week for the football club. It’s never nice to see people lose their jobs,” said Sheehan.
“Now is a time for us to be together as staff and players and understand that we have work to do to be ready on Saturday.
“We now have an opportunity to put things right and that is where the focus has been, we have work to do but I do believe we have another gear to go. It’s about us finding what I have seen in training and doing it consistently on a Saturday.
“Every game is a big game and difficult in the Championship. It’s hard to get three points but it’s about finding the formula to be consistent in every game.
“It will be a tough game. I firmly believe it is about us, how we do things and how we can hurt them. That is how my mindset is at, how we can beat the opposition.
“We’re expecting another similar test. They’re a bit more of a front-footed team and have had some good results over the last couple of weeks.
“I was surprised [at Michael Duff’s sacking]. His past record at Cheltenham and Barnsley had been really good but the bottom line is we’re 18th in the league and we need to improve on that, it is a results-based business. It is not acceptable for a club like Swansea City.
“I’ve been given the privilege to be in charge of this football club for however long it is, and I understand my responsibility. I want to put out a good team that the fans are going to be proud of.
“I think this is an incredible job for any manager. Until you live here you don’t feel it, there’s something different. My family live here and it is the happiest they’ve ever been.
“The people around you know what it means, and they tell you on the first day what you need to know and what needs to happen, and you feel how much it means to them.
“This weekend will be a tough challenge, but I think it is important to concentrate on ourselves and see if we can hurt them.”
Whilst Sheehan is unlikely to have much change to his personnel to his squad available for the weekends fixture, the former Luton coach revealed that the trio of Nathan Wood, Mykola Kukharevych and Joe Allen are all back in training with the first-team squad.
“Woody [Nathan Wood] is back on the grass,” confirmed Sheehan.
“It is great news, he is such a wonderful character and a brilliant kid.
“He was in a good place around the QPR and the Sheffield Wednesday game where he looked like he had finally found his rhythm.
“It’s been so unfortunate for him to be out because he’s such a good player.
“Myko [Kukharevych] is back on the grass, as is Joe Allen but they are not available yet for the weekend.
“It’s great to have the lads back because they are important members of the squad. Hopefully, we can get them back on the football pitch soon.
“I will probably bring an academy player. I won’t say who that is but there are some really good players coming through.
“To name a few there’s Filip Lissah, Kyrell [Wilson], Sam Parker and Azeem [Abdulai] who has already made the breakthrough.
“There is some really good talent, and we have a duty to look after them and develop them as people and as players and have them training with us to see if we can give them the opportunity to play for the football club at first team level.”
