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| Marcelo Bielsa is now the odds-on favourite to take over at Swansea |
HUW JENKINS has started the process of interviewing candidates to take over at Swansea as Marcelo Bielsa became the latest high-profile name to enter the fray.
The Swansea chairman has found himself inundated with interest in the Liberty Stadium vacancy following last week's sacking of Garry Monk, and former Argentina coach Bielsa is now the odds-on favourite.
Jenkins, 52, had hoped to appoint a new boss early this week, but there is a suggestion caretaker manager Alan Curtis will be asked to lead the Swans again when they face West Ham in a crucial home clash on Sunday.
The former Swansea and Wales striker will take training when the players report for duty at the club's Fairwood base today and is believed to have been told there is a good chance he will remain at the helm against the Hammers.
"I am prepared to remain in charge for the next game if that is what is needed of me by the club," said the 61-year-old. "But I have no indication as to who might come in or when that person might be appointed.
"It is important the club makes the right appointment. If it takes a bit longer to get that, so be it, but I hope it gets sorted out straightaway."
Jenkins has seen several of his preferred candidates drop out of the race to replace Monk. Brendan Rodgers, Dennis Bergkamp and Mark Warburton have been among those to rule themselves out.
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| Garry Monk was sacked as Swansea manager last week |
It has meant a delay in Jenkins' plan to appoint a successor rapidly, but it is understood the Swans have received considerable interest from the continent after Monk's exit was finally confirmed.
Former Sunderland boss Gus Poyet remains a leading contender. The Uruguayan is understood to have held discussions with Jenkins over the weekend and he would not cost much to prise away from AEK Athens, with his contract only containing a £300,000 release clause.
There are believed to be some reservations about Poyet's temperament among several senior figures at the club, but there is also a belief a strong figure is needed to draw an underperforming squad back into line.
Bielsa would certainly meet the requirement for a strong figurehead. The 60-year-old is out of work having left Marseille just a week into the new season back in August.
The odds on Bielsa taking charge have been slashed in the last 24 hours and the former Argentina and Chile manager is believed to have made contact with the Swansea hierarchy to outline his interest in having a crack at Premier League management.
He would also fit the bill in terms of his commitment to attractive, attacking football and a cosmopolitan CV, including a particularly impressive stint in charge of Athletic Bilbao.
It will also not have gone unnoticed by Swansea that Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of Bielsa's methods, once describing him as "the best coach in the world".
Along with Bielsa, the Sevilla coach Unai Emery and Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli are among other overseas options on Swansea's radar as Jenkins balances the need to make sure he gets the right man with the desire to act quickly ahead of a busy festive period which could be key in their efforts to avoid relegation.
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