Sousa Swansea Speculation: Interviewed and Favourite for Managerial Job....Tabloid: Newcastle Interest in Delaney, Hall and Blackstock?

-
For cutting-edge, continually-updated news about QPR: Visit the combination messageboard and quasi-blog: The QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and other football news; nostalgia; and posters' views: No focus on politics, films, music, etc. No ad-hominem attacks on fellow posters. Just an (usually) intelligent focus on QPR and Football

- The Return of The Magilton Diaries - Entry IV (Satire)
- Top Twenty Football Club Programmes

- "Taarabt could leave Tottenham for Malaga"
- Blackpool's Burgess Looks forward to QPR Game


Sousa Favourite at Swansea
BBC - Sousa joins frame for Swans job- Paulo Sousa has emerged as the latest candidate to be considered for the vacant Swansea City job.
- BBC Wales understands the former Queens Park Rangers boss has been interviewed by the Swans and is among the leading contenders to replace Roberto Martinez.
- Swansea City's board are due to meet on Friday and a decision is expected "in the next few days".
- Former Tottenham assistant manager Gus Poyet and Sheffield United player-coach Gary Speed are also being considered.
- Sousa, 38, was a member of Portugal's golden generation alongside Luís Figo, Rui Costa, Nuno Gomez and Sergio Conceição and Jorge Costa and won 51 international caps.
- The midfielder, who graduated through the Benfica academy, played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe including Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Parma.
Sousa won back-to-back Champions League crowns in the 1990s as a player. BBC

Western Daily Mail/Blair Wood - Sousa
- "....UEFA Champions League winner and Portuguese legend Paulo Sousa has emerged as the hot favourite for the vacant Swansea City manager’s job.
The Western Mail understands the former QPR boss has held talks with the Swans and is at the top of their short-list as the board seek Roberto Martinez’s successor.
Ex-Chelsea star Gus Poyet and Wales legend Gary Speed have also been interviewed for the post.
- However, it is thought that early front-runner Speed has dipped down the pecking order, with Sousa very much the bookies’ favourite for the job.
Rotherham manager Mark Robins, Southend boss Steve Tilson and ex-Watford chief Adiy Bothroyd are also being eyed by the Swans.
- Former Portugal international Sousa, who won the Champions League with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund in the mid-1990s, has a very similar management style to Martinez.
- Like the Spaniard, he has a strong knowledge of the European transfer market, a key credential for the Swans’ board seeking Martinez’s full-time replacement.
Those attributes were clearly evident during Sousa’s short spell with QPR last season.
- But his reign at Loftus Road was abruptly cut short when Sousa was sacked for “divulging sensitive information without permission from the club’s hierarchy” after he revealed striker Dexter Blackstock was loaned to Nottingham Forest without his knowledge.
- Having enjoyed his time in London, it is understood Sousa would be interested in a move back into the Championship. And, as they look to unveil their new manager by the end of the week, he fits the Swans requirements for a young manager who likes attractive football and has good contacts in Europe.
- Even if he does impress chairman Huw Jenkins, Sousa faces strong competition for the job.
- Former Uruguayan international Poyet, who is also a top contender for the job, said: “I would really be interested in the job. I would really like to go there, it would be a great opportunity.”
But whoever replaces Martinez at the Liberty Stadium, the new manager’s first task is likely to be convincing the Swans’ prize assets to remain at the club with Martinez refusing to rule out transfer raids this summer...." Western Daily Mail


South Wales Evening Post - Swans' search for manager down to five
- SWANSEA City's search for a manager is down to a final five which includes double Champions League winner Paula Sousa.
- And the Evening Post understands another of the contenders is a name which has so far not been mentioned.
- Former Queens Park Rangers manager Sousa features on the short list to replace Roberto Martinez alongside Gary Speed, Gus Poyet and Aidy Boothroyd.
- And there is one more candidate who is currently in a manager's job elsewhere.
- But it is understood that man is not Paul Tisdale, who was on Swansea's list of possible targets but has indicated that he will be staying on at Exeter City.
-The likes of Roberto Di Matteo, the MK Dons manager, and Hearts's Romanian boss Csaba Laszlo have been touted as potential Martinez successors.
- But chairman Huw Jenkins is refusing to discuss individual candidates as Swansea edge closer to making an appointment.
- Speed, one of the frontrunners throughout, visited the Liberty for talks with Jenkins on Tuesday and will be allowed to leave his player-coach role at Sheffield United if Swansea go for him.
- Poyet, who is currently out of work, was at the stadium on Monday trying to convince Jenkins that he is the right man for the job, while ex-Watford boss Boothroyd has also visited the city in the last few days.
- It is believed that Sousa, who left QPR in April, met Jenkins yesterday to put his point across.
- The 38-year-old Portuguese lasted just five months at Loftus Road, where he was under pressure from Rangers' outspoken board almost from the off.
- He was sacked with the club claiming he had divulged sensitive information over
the transfer of Dexter Blackstock to Nottingham Forest.
- Sousa, who had previously been No.2 to Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, enjoyed a glittering playing career which took in spells at Benfica, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Espanyol among others.
- Capped 51 times, he is the only man ever to have won back-to-back European Cups after successes with Juve in 1996 and Dortmund in 1997.
- Swansea's owners are conscious that an appointment needs to be made as soon as possible with pre-season training due to start one week today.
- And it could well be that they come to a decision on who is the right man to take them forward at a board meeting which takes place tomorrow.
- "We are hopeful that we'll have some news by the end of the week," Jenkins told the Post.
- "We have had a much better week this week than last and things are going to move on at a pace from now on.
- "We are well aware that the new season is fast approaching and we need to make an appointment."
- Former Swindon, Leeds and Spurs No. 2 Poyet, who played in midfield for Chelsea from 1997 to 2001, has publicly declared his interest in taking the reins at Swansea.
- "I would really be interested in the job," the Uruguayan said. "I would really like to go there. It would be a great opportunity."
- Poyet is one of around 20 potential managers Jenkins has spoken to since it became clear Martinez was heading for Wigan. This is South Wales


From Vital Football Swansea
Manager Candidate Profiles - Paulo Sousa
- "....Paulo Sousa has only been linked to the job because of speculation and rumours with nothing reported about him in the media.
However, he has recently emerged as one of the favourites to take the job with SkyBet dramatically shortening their odds on him, making Sousa favourite at 2/5, followed by Gus Poyet at 5/2..." Vital Football Swansea
- Swansea Managerial Betting Odds


Daily Star -SHEARER 'N KEANO SET FOR A SCRAP
- ALAN Shearer will go head-to-head with Roy Keane for QPR’s Damien Delaney.
- The rival managers are set to battle it out in a summer scramble for the £1.5m-rated Republic of Ireland defender.
- Shearer is finally set to be named Newcastle boss in the next 48 hours, and will make up for lost time in the transfer market by lining up a £5m triple swoop of Loftus Road stars.
- The 38-year-old, whose No.2 Iain Dowie spent five months in charge of Rangers last year, is also eyeing striker Dexter Blackstock and defender Fitz Hall as he looks to rebuild a squad capable of bouncing straight back into the Premier League after relegation.
- But Shearer faces stiff competition from Ipswich boss Keane.
- The Irishman is a long-term admirer of his fellow Corkman Delaney, and has money to spend in his bid to lead the Tractor Boys to promotion in his first full season in charge.
- QPR’s new manager Jim Magilton is keen to hang onto the former Hull player, and will do all he can to keep the 27-year-old, who can also operate in midfield." Daily Star

- A Reminder of last season's Friendlies

- 2009/2010 Premiership Odds

- QPR in Masters Tournament June 20

- The A-Z of QPR Websites

- Key Dates for QPR's 2009-2010 Season

- Week-by-Week Championship Fixtures --- Week-by-Week Premiership Fixtures