Premier League the 'dream' for Swansea - Sheehan

Alan Sheehan says the Premier League is the "dream" as he begins life as Swansea City's head coach.

The 38-year-old Irishman has been given his first permanent managerial role by Swansea, having impressed across two spells as the club's caretaker boss.

Sheehan has signed a three-year contract, having led a Swansea side who had relegation concerns when he took the reins in February to the top half of the table.

When asked whether he could ultimately lead Swansea back to the top flight, Sheehan said: "Can I? I don't think it's a yes or no answer.

"I think we all dream of working in the Premier League. We would love to do that at Swansea.

"But in order to do so we need to get a lot of decisions right and we need to be consistent on that. Talking about it is one thing, actually doing it is better."

After winning the Championship play-off final in 2011, Swansea spent seven years in the Premier League before relegation in 2018.

They came close to rejoining the elite in 2020 and 2021, when Steve Cooper led the club to successive play-off campaigns.

Since then, however, Swansea's best second-tier finish is 10th, with the club's ambition questioned at various points over the last seven years.

But with a new ownership group in place since last November, Sheehan says there is a desire in the boardroom to return to the highest level.

"I think in the Championship, if you are not talking about the Premier League, I don't know why we're here really," he added.

"It's not something that's shouted out, it's understood that we all want to get there.

"You have got to make a whole lot of right decisions, then you have to have positive energy throughout, you have to win games, you have to build confidence, you have to have the fans onside, you have to have the board onside and the players onside."

Sheehan added that Swansea have experienced a "minor case" of the sort of consistency required to compete over the last two months, having taken 23 points from his 12 matches at the helm.

At his first press conference since being named Luke Williams' full-time successor, former Luton Town and Southampton coach Sheehan was flanked by director of football Richard Montague, who led Swansea's managerial search.

Montague, who joined Swansea from Notts County in February, described the Premier League as being "absolutely the aim".

"We start every season wanting to get there," he added.

"I think we have the foundations here that would allow us to be successful. But the number of decisions you have to get right to get to that level is probably very, very high.

"We have to improve that decision-making process and every bit of work that goes into making the squad stronger in order to give us an opportunity.

"It's harder for a club in our position than it is for some clubs in this league, but we wouldn't be here if we didn't think it was possible."

Swansea finish the season with a home game against Oxford United on Saturday (12:30 BST), when victory could see them secure a 10th-placed finish depending on West Bromwich Albion's result against Luton.

Sheehan said summer recruitment work will be key to Swansea's hopes of further progress next season.

"We need to have the right blend of assets and experience in the building," he said.

"We want to keep certain players we believe are really good fits for the club, but we understand that a lot of teams want good players.

"We want to make a number of signings, we can all agree on that."