Swansea City promise imminent update on Paul Clement replacement, Tony Pulis early favourite

Swansea City could announce their next manager in the next 24 hours following the sacking of Paul Clement with Tony Pulis the current favourite for the job at the Liberty Stadium.

Less than a year after taking charge, Clement was relieved of his duties in south Wales on Wednesday evening (20 December) having won just three games this season.

While the was able to steer them to Premier League survival last season, he leaves the club two points adrift at the foot of the table with club chairman Hew Jenkins insisting another managerial change half way through the season "was the last thing we wanted to do."

Clement's assistants Nigel Gibbs and Karl Halabi have also both left the club.

Swansea sacked both Francesco Guidolin and Bob Bradley before turning to former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich assistant coach Clement in January.

"We had three different managers last season and as a result we all wanted to give Paul as much time as possible to turn things around," Jenkins said in a statement.

"But we felt we couldn't leave it any longer and needed to make a change to give us the best chance of an uplift and a turnaround in fortunes with the club bottom of the Premier League.

"Paul has been at the club for 12 months and what he achieved in the second half of last season to keep us in the top flight was a tremendous feat. For that, and his effort and commitment this season, it goes without saying that the club thanks him for his work, together with Nigel (Gibbs) and Karl (Halabi).

"I have had an excellent working relationship with Paul and we are all, including the owners, surprised and disappointed it hasn't worked out this season.

"We wish Paul every success in his career going forward.''

Despite last season's survival, Swansea did little to raise their prospects for the 2017-18 campaign after a dismal summer transfer window where they sold key players Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson and failed to bring in adequate replacements.

Wilfried Bony returned to the club after a two-year absence but has scored just twice this term, while the club's most high profile addition in Renato Sanches, signed on loan from Bayern Munich, has struggled to deliver any real impact.

Swansea fans may not have long to wait before learning who their next manager is however with the club adding in their statement a further update regarding Clement and his staff's replacements will be made within the next 24 hours.

Pulis, who was sacked by West Bromwich Albion after a 4-0 defeat to Chelsea in November, has quickly emerged as the bookies' favourite to take the vacant role. Ronald Koeman, another free agent after being shown the door at Everton last month is also among the front runners, while Leon Britton, who remains a Swans player despite taking up a role on the coaching staff, is also among that pack.