Bob Bradley still No 1 at Swansea because US owners don’t know who to turn to next
Jurgen Klinsmann, Ryan Giggs and Chris Coleman bookies' favourites to take over...perhaps someone should tell the board
BOB BRADLEY is still in control at Swansea only because the club's American owners don't know who to replace him with.
The struggling Swans dithered over Sam Allardyce and watched Crystal Palace pounce for the former England boss to succeed Alan Pardew.
Now, after another devastating home loss to West Ham, Bradley has Swansea four points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Premier League after his seventh defeat in 11 games since taking over from Francesco Guidolin in October.
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Former Le Havre boss American Bradley believes he can save Swansea from relegation and remains "committed" but few are convinced.
And that, apparently, includes the club's US-based owners Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, the men who find themselves considering making their second managerial change of the season
The problem is the inexperienced duo simply don't know who to appoint next.
Bradley has another home date with Bournemouth on Saturday to try and save his skin but even a victory here would fail to convince die hard Swans' fans he's the man for the job.
His lack of Premier League experience and obvious defensive frailty - 29 goals conceded in those 11 matches - is highly evident and there is also the question of whether the owners can trust his judgment in the January transfer window.
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Jurgen Klinsmann, another man with enormous US links having coached the national team, remains the bookies' favourite to move in at the Liberty Stadium. He's 5-1 with William Hill followed by Ryan Giggs, interviewed along with Bradley back in the autumn, and Chris Coleman 6-1, with Gary Rowett, Alan Pardew and Fran de Boer priced at 12-1.
Bradley admits that the 'Bournemouth game couldn't be bigger' and that boardroom discussions on his future were inevitable.
It seems that Bradley does retain the support of his playing staff but their failure to react positively to his methods is a nagging problem.
The last three games against West Brom, Middlesbrough and West Ham have been lost to an aggregate of 10-2.
Bradley took training as usual on Tuesday, though he remains in the dark over his future.
The summer takeover by Levien and Kaplan has triggered a large backlash from supporters, both towards the incoming buyers and to the local businessmen who sold shares.
Pundit John Hartson told the BBC on Monday: "Bob Bradley, with all due respect, is a gentleman and a nice fella, but that doesn't win you football matches.
"Bob Bradley would not be anywhere near Swansea City if it wasn't owned by Americans now.
Added former City striker Ian Walsh:
You just feel he's out of his depth," Walsh told BBC Radio Wales.
"He's not up to it, he's not aware of what needs to be going on.
"Yes, the players have to take a lot of responsibility but the buck stops with the man at the top. He's failed at what he's tried to achieve."
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT SWANSEA MANAGER
Jurgen Klinsmann 5/1
Ryan Giggs 6/1
Chris Coleman 6/1
Gary Rowett 8/1
Alan Pardew 8/1
Frank de Boer 8/1
Tim Sherwood 12/1
Garry Monk 12/1
Pako Ayestaran 14/1
Brendan Rodgers 16/1
Thomas Schaaf 16/1
Steven Gerrard 20/1
Gary Neville 20/1
Alex McLeish 20/1