Luke Williams has parted ways with Swansea City following a poor run of results, which saw the team lose seven of their last nine Championship matches.
Williams, who had been in charge for 13 months, leaves with Swansea sitting 17th in the league, eight points clear of the relegation zone with 13 games remaining this season. Alongside Williams, assistant head coach Ryan Harley and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey have also left their roles.
Alan Sheehan, who had previously served as interim head coach, has been appointed as the caretaker manager once again. He will work alongside coach Kristian O’Leary and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson, with their next match against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. Swansea confirmed that they are already looking for a permanent replacement for Williams.
Swansea’s chairman, Andy Coleman, expressed that the decision to part ways with Williams was difficult but necessary. “Luke has led the club through some tough times, and we are grateful for his hard work,” Coleman said. “However, our performances and results since the start of the year have not met the required standard, which has led to the conclusion that a change is needed.”
Swansea’s form has dipped significantly in 2025, with Saturday’s 3-1 loss to struggling Stoke City being Williams’ final match in charge. After a promising start to the year, which saw the team close in on the play-off spots, Swansea only earned four points from a possible 27, including a heavy defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup.
Additionally, the January transfer window proved disappointing for the club, with Swansea failing to sign several targets and allowing captain Matt Grimes to join Coventry City, further weakening the squad. Grimes’ departure was a significant blow to Williams, whose team was already struggling with a number of deficiencies.
Despite his efforts, former Notts County manager Luke Williams, 43, faced significant criticism from Swansea City fans in the final stages of his tenure.
His relationship with some supporters soured amid rumors linking him to the vacant West Bromwich Albion job in late December. Williams later apologized to those who felt he lacked commitment after not fully dismissing the possibility of moving to The Hawthorns.
The speculation came at a time when Swansea had shown promise, looking like genuine contenders for a top-half finish in the 2024-25 season. This would have been an impressive achievement considering the club’s budget and resources available to Williams.
Earlier in the season, Williams had expressed confidence in Swansea’s play-off potential, although he had previously tempered expectations in September by acknowledging that it would be unrealistic to expect his inexperienced squad to compete at the very top of the division.
Williams joined Swansea in early January 2024, leaving Notts County to take over on a three-and-a-half-year contract. He had previously been part of Russell Martin’s coaching staff at Swansea before his appointment as head coach.
When Luke Williams took charge of Swansea, the team was in 16th place in the Championship, having earned 11 points from seven matches under Alan Sheehan, who had stepped in as caretaker manager following Michael Duff’s sacking in December 2023.
Despite a challenging start, Williams guided Swansea to a 14th-place finish by May and aimed to build on that progress in the current season, focusing on developing the club’s young players. However, a dramatic decline in form during 2025 led to his departure.
Williams’ exit coincides with Richard Montague, a former colleague at Notts County, taking up the role of director of football at Swansea. Williams had hoped Montague’s arrival would strengthen the club’s off-field operations, especially after criticizing the club’s handling of the mid-season transfer window.
Following their match against Blackburn, Swansea will have a 10-day break before their next fixture at Preston on March 4. Chairman Andy Coleman stated that supporters will be updated once a new head coach is appointed, while Alan Sheehan, his staff, and the squad focus on upcoming matches.
In the meantime, the club has postponed a planned fans’ forum that was set for Tuesday, February 18. It will now take place on Monday, March 3. Originally, both Williams and Coleman were scheduled to answer questions from supporters, but the event was delayed due to Williams’ departure.