Michael Duff navigated his way through a multitude of questions yesterday as he spoke about transfers in and out of Swansea City over this summer. Joel Piroe, Josh Ginnelly and one Ellis Simms were all covered.
Despite slight signs of frustration Swansea boss Michael Duff fielded and batted off some questions regards his squad and especially Joel Piroe. It has to be said a somewhat twitchy Andrew Coleman sat alongside him for what was a long press call. Duff explained his position on players in general initially. "it depends what bids come in. Football is a business. We all live in a world where there’s a food chain, and if someone bids the right price, but that’s not my decision, I’m the head coach there’s a sporting director and a board. It is a business at the end of the day. Am I expecting bids, probably, if they are the right bids they will go, and if they are not they will still be here, that’s just the nature of the beast, and that’s not just the players your talking about. You’re talking about the big ones. There will be other players in the squad there will be bids for, and everyone has got a price, and if we think it’s right for the football club, and it will help move the football club forward that’s what we will do”
Ginnelly, Simms & Piroe
On Piroe Duff stated, I’ve got plans for every scenario, football isn’t A B C. The relegated teams might get a huge bid for some of their players, then all of a sudden there’s fifty million quid burning a hole in their pocket. There’s always a knock on effect. I had a good conversation with Joel yesterday, and he is asking about what I want from him and until anything changes we will keep having those conversations. If he goes he goes, if he doesn’t he doesn’t, it’s not personal so there will be plans in place for him to stay, and there will be plans if he goes. I understand he’s the big name, and he is in the last twelve months of his contract. Until something happens there’s nothing to talk about really”
The name Josh Ginnelly cropped up next, someone we reported on yesterday as joining Swansea City. Ginnelly is a free agent after finishing his two year contract at Heart Of Midlothian.
That report is here –> âš½ï¸ Ginnelly to sign
Duff confirmed his arrival and that his medical was imminent. "Everything is subject to passing medicals obviously, and in terms of his profile he offers something different, he runs in behind, he’s done well” Duff mentioned him being at Burnley as a youngster.”I knew him as a young boy at Burnley, he’s grown up, he’s got fire, he’s got something to prove at this level. But being a free transfer and all that we think it’s good value and something different to what we have already got”
With Ginnelly as good as confirmed it seems that Duff was straight out of the blocks with this one, and that’s good to see. The process of transfers has been a difficult one for the majority ownership to master over time and that has caused some lost or missed opportunities.
The name Ellis Simms of Everton seemed to bring proceedings to an end with Duff looking at his watch and stating. "If we talk about every player, I was up at a quarter past five this morning from Spain and I want to go and see my family at some point, Josh ( Marsh ) is in the building on Monday, so that’s a different conversation, there’s thousands of names. So without being rude, it’s pointless me commenting” Another touch of the Sean Dyche treatment from Duff there. A harsh but firm, ‘go away’ The one thing Michael is going to have to get used to is the football microscope in Wales is far more intrusive than Cheltenham Town or Barnsley. The majority of the country is represented by a few teams, and Swansea City, the team Duff manages is arguably the biggest. He will have to get used to it because there’s many a question far more difficult than that coming his way. Overall it was a pleasing introduction for Swans fans who haven’t seen or heard Duff before. He looks a stern proposition and at times officious in his nature, as we’ve said before just what some of these players need.