Hundreds of football fans in Swansea have donated more than �20,000 in an attempt to turn their club's fortunes around and attract new players.

If the Swans do not improve their results, they could face relegation to the Nationwide Conference - a considerable fall from grace for a side that was competing in the top flight 20 years ago.

The club has such a strong place in the community Paul Morris, Swansea City Supporters' Trust

The club is currently languishing at the bottom of Division Three - the lowest division of the Football League.

The Supporters' Trust has now set up a survival fund to help bring in players on loan.

The trust asked fans to pay �5 a week, or whatever they could spare, and the total looks set to keep rising well beyond the �20,000 already collected.

Paul Morris, from the Swansea City Supporters' Trust, said the scheme has proved extremely successful since it began a few weeks ago.

"The trust is there to help the club, and we had an idea we thought we would try out," he said.

"It has taken off in a big way - we started off with reasonable targets of �375 a week, but it has multiplied."

"The club has such a strong place in the community," he added.

Roger Freestone has made a donation

Current Swansea goalkeeper Roger Freestone has also added a donation to the fund himself.

"The club means so much to me, and I consider myself as a big fan as anyone else connected to the club," he said.

Mr Morris said the team's fan-base had been marvellous, and said the money could mean the club could attract better loan players and keep them for longer.

"We have called on the fans and they have rallied round again."

But he begged for more corporate sponsors to get involved.

"The money is coming in from ordinary fans, but we would encourage businesses to take part as well," he said.

'Passion'

Swansea's director of football Brian Flynn has labelled the fund "a fantastic gesture".

"It just shows how much passion the Swans fans and the people of south Wales have got for Swansea City," he said.

Brian Flynn: "Fantastic gesture"

The trust has adopted 20-year-old Alan Tate, who has been brought in on loan from Manchester United, as its initial player.

And the young defender impressed in Swansea's 2-0 defeat at Scunthorpe.

"From all accounts, he does stand out," said Mr Morris.

"If he is Manchester United's reserve team captain, he is no duffer."

Twenty-year-old striker Marc Richards, from Blackburn Rovers, has also been brought in on loan.

But, to avoid being cup-tied, both players missed the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at York City in midweek.