Ex-QPR Scott Donnelly Set to Sign for Loser Sousa

[Macmoish]

Good luck to them both...Good coaching who knows

BBC Swansea City set to complete Scott Donnelly signing
Scott Donnelly
Scott Donnelly made his league debut for QPR aged 16 in 2004

Paulo Sousa is set to make his first Swansea City signing of the summer with the capture of Aldershot midfielder Scott Donnelly, BBC Sport understands.

The 22-year-old, who scored 14 goals during for Aldershot last season League Two, was out-of-contract at the Shots.

Swansea are negotiating a compensation deal with Aldershot as he is under 24.

Donnelly, who Swansea hope replaces the departed Leon Britton, has agreed terms and is to complete his medical with the with the Championship club this week.

Swans boss Sousa is desperately trying to reinforce his important midfield area as Darren Pratley could follow Britton out of the Liberty Stadium as the pivotal player has been heavily linked with a £1.5m move to Nottingham Forest.

Wales midfielder Joe Allen will also miss the start of the new season after undergoing shoulder surgery while the Swans will be without influential playmaker Ferrie Bodde who has a had more surgery in a bid to cure the serious injury to his left knee.

A number of clubs expressed an interest in Donnelly, who inspired Aldershot's ultimately unsuccessful League Two play-off bid last term.

The former England under-17 international was subject of an unsuccessful bid in January, believed to be from relegated League One side Wycombe Wanderers, which Aldershot turned down.

606: DEBATE
I have to admit to seeing this lad in the play-offs on TV and he stood out - but it was League Two

samletswan

He then rejected a new and improved contract offer from Aldershot in February and Shots manager Kevin Dillon confirmed last week he was leaving the club after three years.

Donnelly scored two landmark goals for Aldershot as his leveller in a 1-1 draw with Exeter City secured them promotion to the Football League while he also scored their winner against Accrington Stanley n Aldershot's first game back in the league.

Donnelly, who signed for Aldershot from non-league side Wealdstone in 2007, is set to sign a minimum two-year contract with the Swans once he passes his medical.

The 5ft 8ins ball-player is a similar build to Britton, who left after eight years at Swansea earlier this month, but there could be a huge reliance on the youngster if Pratley, Allen and Bodde are not in Swansea's team at the start of the season.

Sousa will be hoping to build on Swansea's seventh place finish of last season - their best league finish for 26 years - but that could be difficult with an entirely new and untested midfield engine room.

newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/8754546.stm

[Zamoraaaah]

Good luck to 'em.

[Macmoish]

An interesting sentence. "...I had numerous meetings with the chairman where he introduced me to our new chief scout, David Leadbeater..."


Western Mail

Swans to sign hot-shot Donnelly
Jun 23 2010 by Blair Wood, Western Mail

SWANSEA CITY are poised to make Aldershot Town’s highly-rated young midfielder Scott Donnelly their first signing of the summer

Donnelly, whose scored an impressive 14 goals from central midfield as he helped the Shots into the League Two play-offs last season, has agreed terms with the Swans after his contract at the Recreation Ground expired.

It is understood he will sign a contract for a minimum of two years while Aldershot will be compensated with a “substantial development fee” for the talented 22-year-old.

Donnelly, who can also play on the wing or as a forward, came through the academy ranks at QPR and was brought in on the recommendation of new chief scout David Leadbeater. Donnelly’s arrival will now add extra competition to a Swans midfield that already contains young talents like Joe Allen and Jazz Richards.

It will also add pressure to Spaniard Andrea Orlandi, who continues to stall on a fresh contract offer from the club.

And Swans boss Paulo Sousa has broken his summer silence and moved to reassure fans he has already been working hard to prepare for the new season.

Speaking to Swansea’s official website, the two-time Champions League winner has now moved to ease any uncertainty.

“I had numerous meetings with the chairman where he introduced me to our new chief scout, David Leadbeater.

“Together we spoke about the players that they wanted to bring to the club. I am looking forward to working with the players as soon as I can.”

Adamant his first season was a success, Sousa continued: “I believe losing the players we did last year and to finish in the highest position in nearly 30 years was a big achievement.”

www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/swansea-city-fc/2010/06/23/swans-to-sign-hot-shot-donnelly-91466-26706076/

[Macmoish]

"The" photo from last year

[Macmoish]

More on Swansea's new scout

Scouting lift for Swansea City
Jun 18 2010 by Blair Wood, Western Mail

SWANSEA CITY have moved to bolster their scouting department – just as they missed out on rumoured target Tamika Mkandawire.

Within 24 hours of Mkandawire announcing his decision to join Championship rivals Millwall on a free transfer, the Swans have announced their first acquisition of the summer.

And, while it won’t have a direct impact on matters on the pitch, the arrival of David Leadbeater will certainly be a big boost to this summer’s search for reinforcements.

Leadbeater, who was previously head of recruitment at Middlesbrough, has been brought in to help the Swans refocus, reform and restructure their recruitment policy.

With 15 years of experience on Teesside, he will help fill the void left by former chief scout Lil Fuccillo’s departure, which is yet to be confirmed by the club.

“We are pleased to have David on board,” said chairman Huw Jenkins. “He has been brought in to help identify hungry and enthusiastic talent such as players that have formed the basis of our club in the last five to seven years.
“He will be helping us by discovering the right players, not only for now but also for the future.

“David has a lot of experience and we will make sure that we use it. We are thrilled to have him here to focus on looking for young and hungry players for this football club.”

www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/swansea-city-fc/2010/06/18/scouitng-lift-for-swansea-city-91466-26676539/

[superckat]

I always knew we hadn't seen the last of Donelly at championship level. Good luck to him, at 22 he's not even peaked yet. With Sousa's guidance, wouldn't be too surprised if he goes even further.

[funky]

Hope he does well.

Sousa will probably loan him out to another team going for promotion via the play offs.

[superckat]

Jun 23, 2010 8:39:37 GMT @funky said:

Hope he does well.

Sousa will probably loan him out to another team going for promotion via the play offs.

You cheeky monkey

[Markqpr]

Jun 23, 2010 8:39:37 GMT @funky said:

Hope he does well.

Sousa will probably loan him out to another team going for promotion via the play offs.

Would prefer that to loaning out your striker to a relegation rival.

[Macmoish]

Western Mail
New signing Donnelly determined to break into Swansea set-up
Jun 24 2010 by Blair Wood, Western Mail

SWANSEA CITY new boy Scott Donnelly has insisted he is ready to step up to the Championship and spoken of his determination to break into Paulo Sousa’s starting XI.

Donnelly, who has penned a three-year deal, is the Swans’ first new recruit of the summer.

Subject to a medical, the highly-rated midfielder will join from League Two side Aldershot after the two clubs agreed a “substantial” development fee due to the player’s age.

Revealing he was set to sign for Wycombe Wanderers until an 11th-hour call from Swansea changed everything, the former QPR man struggled to hide his delight at the move.

And, while he knows he faces a battle to first get in Sousa’s team and then to prove his worth in the Championship, it’s a challenge he is relishing.

“It’s a massive step up for me but one I’m looking forward to,” the 22-year-old beamed.

“I know how good their midfield is already but now I just need to start working hard straight away and show the manager I can be a good player for him.

“I think it’s my time to get another go at the Championship.

“I had a taste of it with QPR and now this is my second chance.

“I’m over the moon that I will get that opportunity.

“It was a pretty weird feeling because I was set to move somewhere else until we suddenly got a call from Swansea.

“As soon as I knew they were interested, I didn’t want to go anywhere else.

“They play some of the best football around outside of the Premiership and I’m delighted I will get a chance to try and be a part of that

www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/swansea-city-fc/2010/06/24/new-signing-donnelly-determined-to-break-into-swansea-set-up-91466-26714423/

[grumpyolde]

is this another C.V. with the "Paladini thought I was no good ".? It must be a fantastic recomendation to have - it seems to work so often.

[funky]

I actually thought at the time that it was the right deceison for Scott to move on.

The lads done really well for Aldershot winning promotions and the first team experience he has gained has now seen him move to Swansea.

I'm sure everyone wishes him well, he has progressed far more than he would have at QPR where some of our younsters appear no further forward thean three years ago...balanta being a prime example.

I know on this site that Gianni takes a fair bit of stick, but at the end of the day the decision to release him was made in 2007 by John Gregory the lads progressed and now has another shot at the Championship with Swansea.

I dont think its fair to pin this one on Paladini.

The decision to get rid of Sousa some would argue was far worse than that of releasing Donnerley.

[Macmoish]

Again, I'd generally agree with Funky... (This could be habbit-forming! )

[funky]

Jun 24, 2010 10:26:19 GMT Macmoish said:

Again, I'd generally agree with Funky... (This could be habbit-forming! )

Now if you could only see my point of view reagrding Gianni we really could be on to somthing.

[eastpaddoknutta]

i liked donnerly i thought it was a shame he went but when he did we was looking at spending £xxxxxxxx on players X,Y and Z

so to be honest i rekon alot of it would of been for donnerly to go to a club where he wasnt going to go out of existance.

hes probaly one of the only ex qpr youths that is playing regular first team football tbh isnt he?

[Lonegunmen]

Whatever became of Brian Fitzgerald??

[Macmoish]

This is South Wales

New signing Scott Donnelly admits: I'm inspired by Paulo Sousa

Donnelly admits he is desperate to play under Paulo Sousa — and expects the Swansea City boss to transform him as a player.

Donnelly, who started his career at Queens Park Rangers, became Swansea's first summer signing last week after agreeing a three-year deal.

The 22-year-old had been expected to leave Aldershot for Wycombe, but jumped at the chance of playing Championship football under Sousa when Swansea came in for him.

The former England under-17 midfielder, who spent last weekend looking around the city for a new home, is now targeting a spot in Sousa's first team.

And he expects to benefit massively from working under the Portuguese.

"When I heard Swansea and Paulo Sousa were interested I was desperate to get something done," said Donnelly.

"It was really flattering because he has a massive reputation.

"I have to prove myself under him," he added.

"Paulo Sousa was a top player and I can't wait to start learning from him.

"I remember speaking to my agent about the manager and we were going through the clubs he played for — Inter Milan, Juventus, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund.

"They are all top clubs," said Donnelly.

"If you don't want to play under someone like that then there's something wrong with you.

"I'm sure he'll get the best out of me — he'll turn me into a player I never expected to be.

"I think I'll become a more complete player under him, so I'll take everything he says on board." Donnelly will meet his new team-mates on Friday in Swansea's first pre-season training session.

And having watched a considerable amount of Swansea during last season's Championship campaign, he is itching to get started.

"They play perfect football here," said Donnelly. "I like to get on the ball and I've watched Swansea many times. They get it down as soon as possible and spread it about.

"I'm not the type that goes around kicking lumps out of people, so I should fit right in here. I'm really looking forward to meeting the squad at training,'' said the new signing.

"I was very impressed with the facilities here — I can't wait to get started."

Chris Barney
www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/sport/New-signing-admits-m-inspired-Sousa/article-2354607-detail/article.html