Blades frustrated by Orient

Blades frustrated by Orient

Published Feb. 27, 2013 6:15 a.m. ET

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has revealed the club are closing in on agreeing a new contract with manager Michael Laudrup.

The Dane guided the Welsh club to their first major silverware with a 5-0 Capital One Cup final victory over Bradford at Wembley on Sunday.

Laudrup's success at the Liberty Stadium has increased speculation linking him with some of Europe's top clubs.

Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City have been among those touted as possible destinations for Laudrup, whose current deal at the Liberty Stadium runs to the summer of 2014, but Jenkins has no concerns he will lose the 48-year-old this summer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jenkins said: "Personally I have no issue about the thought of him not being here next season, I think he will be here and he's stated he would honour his contract.

"Michael has stated before he wants to be here next season. If you look at his career before he came here, he needed to find the right club and stability in himself as a manager.

"He needed the time to show he could work in an environment for a period of years and be successful, which is what top managers are about.

"We felt before he joined this was the right place for that, which has proved to be the case.

"You would think in his own interests it is the right thing to stay with us and see where we get to next season.

"We have been talking, but Michael touched upon it himself that if he had a 10-year contract it makes no difference (to the speculation).

"We have security until next summer when his current two-year deal finishes and we've got a period of time to make sure we have more security on that and that's something we will be looking at over the next few weeks.

"To be fair, when he came here he said clearly to me he didn't want to be a manager in 10 years and couldn't see himself being in Swansea in three or four years.

"He's said that clearly from day one so there's no surprise there, it's nothing different.

"But with us doing well and him being a past player and a fantastic one for Real Madrid, it's natural he will be touted around."

Laudrup's agent Bayram Tutumlu, meanwhile, told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet: "We have a good relationship with the chairman Huw Jenkins as negotiations take place in a positive spirit.

"The club has expressed a desire to extend the deal and Michael Laudrup is very happy to be in the club.

"It's really not that complicated here. The club is interested in an extension and we will soon find out when I am to sit down with the chairman in the coming weeks."

Schumacher had enough chances for a hat-trick as Swindon looked lost without the influence of departed manager Paolo di Canio.

Lowly Bury had no trouble containing the sporadic home attacks after Schumacher had opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a near-post strike from Joe Skarz's cross.

Schumacher fired over after 73 minutes and came close to adding to his 10 goals for the season in the last minute only to be denied by a fine save from Wes Foderingham.

Swindon had to wait until the 79th minute before managing their first shot on target, a free-kick from substitute Luke Rooney which caused no trouble for goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

Swindon's unexpected defeat was their first in three months while Bury's win gives them renewed hope of avoiding the drop from League One.

Latching onto a clearance down the left wing, Potter raced past Leon Legge to slot the ball calmly into the far corner in the 84th minute, the first goal the U's have scored against Gillingham in seven games.

In the first half United keeper Luke McCormick excellently denied first-half substitute Bradley Dack a goal with his first touch after the midfielder had been played in by Deon Burton.

Full-back Liam Davis responded two minutes later, travelling with the ball from inside his own half down the left channel before firing in a shot which Nelson saved well with his legs.

The Gills brought on Danny Kedwell and new signing Antonio German but both failed to make an impact and the hosts have now won just two of their last nine games on home soil whilst Oxford earned just their second win in eight games.

It was a first win in six games for Brian Flynn's side but they left it late to end their lean run.

Doncaster made much of the early running but were twice cursing their luck when the woodwork came to Shrewsbury's rescue.

James Husband smashed a swerving 25-yard drive against the bar in the fifth minute and then Rob Jones struck the post from close range.

Shrewsbury's task was made harder when midfielder Dave McAllister was sent off in the 36th minute.

He received a straight red card for what referee Ollie Langford interpreted as a reckless challenge.

Doncaster had to be patient to make their extra man count with Chris Weale pulling off some fine saves before Husband, set up by James Coppinger, stroked the visitors into a 73rd-minute lead.

Shrewsbury's 10 men showed plenty of spirit and looked to have snatched a point when a last-minute shot on the turn from Tom Eaves, on loan from Bolton, squirmed past red-faced goalkeeper Gary Woods.

But there was still just enough time for substitute Bennett, a Shropshire lad, to win it for Doncaster in the closing stages when his shot was deflected past Weale to leave Shrewsbury crestfallen.

There was a good chance for the hosts early on when Neill Collins stabbed the ball wide from Harry Maguire's knock-down.

Blades keeper George Long then made a good save from Shaun Batt, who was through on goal, before United's Dominic Poleon fired narrowly wide.

Moses Odubajo had a shot deflected wide during a good spell for Orient, with Romain Vincelot thwarted by Long after playing a one-two with Jimmy Smith and the keeper also making a fine save to keep out David Mooney's follow-up.

United's Ryan Flynn saw an effort strike a post and Michael Doyle's firm drive was well turned over by Jamie Jones.

share