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  1. Vigouroux demands strong finish to boost future successpublished at 18:30 BST 10 April

    Swansea City goalkeeper Lawrence VigourouxImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux says Swansea City must use their final five games of the season as a springboard for success in the next campaign, beginning with Saturday's trip to relegation-threatened Leicester City (15:00 BST).

    Swansea are comfortably mid-table in the Championship, seemingly with little to play for, but Vigouroux says the squad feels it has a point to prove.

    "I think we're a massive club. We deserve to be a lot higher in the league and we know that as players," he said.

    "But I think it's building blocks and I think we started off really well with the new manager (Vitor Matos), especially at home. You know we're really tough to beat and now we need to translate that form away from home and get as many points as we can.

    "Some guys are trying to earn new contracts, some guys are trying to build their way into the team, for example like Sam (Parker) who was outstanding on the weekend, these are the kind of games for him that if he does really well, he can then become a really really important part of our squad.

    "So these are the kind of moments, these kind of games where you can get as many points as you can, leave the season in a good place and then you're raring to go for next season."

    The 32-year-old Chile goalkeeper has experienced a similar situation before with former club Leyton Orient.

    Like the Swans, a change of manager during the season saw a period of upheaval that ultimately laid the foundations for future success.

    "It's so important because then you know each other's strengths," he added.

    "I had the same when I was at Leyton Orient... a manager left in the middle of the season, a new manager came in and then we've done really well towards the end of the season, and then the season after we won the league.

    "It was literally because we had played together for that last 10 games. He didn't make too many changes, there were maybe one or two coming in.

    "We knew what we were playing with, who we were playing with, and I think there's nothing to say that that can't happen here.

    "We've got a really good group of players that know their jobs. They know each other's strengths and weaknesses inside out."

  2. Former Cardiff boss Riza joins Cole at Cesenapublished at 15:11 BST 10 April

    Omer RizaImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Former Cardiff City boss Omer Riza has joined Italian second-tier side Cesena as an assistant coach to Ashley Cole.

    Riza, 46, has been out of work since he was sacked by Cardiff last season, which ended with the club being relegated from the Championship.

    Former Arsenal, Chelsea and England defender Cole was appointed Cesena manager last month.

    The 45-year-old came through the Arsenal youth ranks at the same time as Riza, who spent a year at Cardiff, first as an assistant to Erol Bulut and then as head coach.

    The former Watford coach shared a post on social media from his management team, which read: "Omer Riza has been appointed assistant head coach at Cesena FC - working alongside Ashley Cole in Serie B.

    "From Arsenal's youth pitches to the England set-up. From the Championship dugout at Cardiff City to Italian football. The game rewards those who stay ready."