"Would be a good fit" - Pundit urges Swansea City to raid Tottenham for Luke Williams successor | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer spoke exclusively to FLW about Ryan Mason, who has been linked to the freshly-vacant Swansea City job

Pundit and former England international Carlton Palmer has encouraged Swansea City to appoint Ryan Mason, who is among a clutch of names to have been linked to the freshly-vacant post following the sacking of Luke Williams earlier this week.

Williams was relieved of his duties on Monday after coming under increased scrutiny from supporters. His own failure to initially play down previous speculation linking him to the West Bromwich Albion job, coupled with the sale of long-serving captain Matt Grimes to Coventry City both sparked mixed reactions among the Jack Army faithful.

However, a wretched run of eight defeats from the first ten matches of 2025 - including a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Cardiff City in last month's south Wales derby - ultimately left Swans with no other choice than to part ways with the 43-year-old.

The nadir was Saturday afternoon's 3-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Stoke City, where Swansea were put to the sword after going into the ascendancy in the Potteries. They have been left in 17th place, having been in contention for a play-off spot before the turn of the year.

A number of bosses have been linked to the job by reports. As per Darren Witcoop, Des Buckingham and Rob Edwards - who were sacked by Oxford United and Luton Town respectively this season - are both under consideration alongside Ryan Mason.

The 33-year-old turned to coaching after being forced to hang up his boots at the age of just 26 back in 2018, and has worked his way up to become Ange Postecoglou's assistant at Tottenham Hotspur, having previously taken charge of the senior side on an interim basis on two separate occasions.

Carlton Palmer urges Swansea City to appoint Ryan Mason from Tottenham Hotspur

Palmer believes that Mason should seize the potential opportunity at the Swansea.com Stadium and earn his stripes in senior management instead of continuing to serve as assistant to Postecoglou.

Of course, Postecoglou's long-term future in north London is a topic of much debate and Mason could receive the nod if the Aussie leaves, but according to Palmer, the ex-Spurs and Hull City midfielder should be looking to test himself at Swansea first.

"Highly-rated Spurs coach Ryan Mason is being heavily linked with the Swansea City job," Palmer exclusively told FLW.

"Would it be a good appointment? I think it would. We know he wants to cut his teeth as a manager, and the first job you take is very important.

You've got to speak to the club, see what their ambitions are and what the route is for the next few years, because obviously now you've got to work until the summer without a transfer window.

"The 33-year-old is highly talked about and I think it would be a great way to dip his toe into the managerial circle. There is talk that he could replace Ange Postecoglou, for me he's better off concentrating on getting to a Championship club and getting that experience.

"If he was to be offered the job ahead of the likes of Des Buckingham and Rob Edwards, two out-of-work managers who have previously done well, it gives him a high chance to show he's worth of being a number one. He has his contacts at Spurs so he would be able to help them out in terms of being able to get players to join on loan.

"Swansea have been known for nurturing young players and playing an attractive possession-based brand of football, which aligns with Mason's philosophy. I think he would be under less scrutiny than taking over a top job at Spurs, and he can get on and show what he's capable of doing.

"I think that would be a good fit all the way around. If he wants to go into management then go and take a job like Swansea, cut your teeth doing that, and then you can eventually step up to the Premier League."

Ryan Mason could be a good stylistic fit for Swansea City

Mason's modus operandi is across a small sample size. The coach has led Spurs in 13 first-team matches as interim boss at the back-ends of the 2020/21 and 2022/23 seasons, winning and losing six games apiece.

His style of play, however, is decipherable and would align with the fundamental ethos which is in place in south Wales. Mason is known to favour a 4-2-3-1 with a possession-based brand of football and a heavy emphasis on building out from the back, while he likes his teams to press high and be aggressive without the ball.

For well over a decade, they have held a philosophy of wanting to have total dominion over the ball, with continued possession and passing between the lines a staple of both the most and least successful Swansea sides in recent history.

Supporters have lapped up what is referred to as 'The Swansea Way' although the relentless possession without penetration under Russell Martin and particularly Williams did disgruntle fans, so there would have to be some adaptation from Mason.

However, he's hardly at odds with the style of play that the club's reputation is built upon nor that a fair chunk of fans still demand, which could put him in good stead if he would be willing to implement a sprinkle of extra urgency and intensity into the side.