By David Dulin BBC Sport Wales

Gary Speed is currently a coach at Sheffield United

Sheffield United have turned down an approach from Swansea City who want Gary Speed as their new manager.

The 40-year-old former Wales captain is on the coaching staff at the Blades under Kevin Blackwell.

Speed was interviewed for the Liberty Stadium job a year ago, but missed out to Paulo Sousa.

"As things stand, obviously that's their stance for their own reasons," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins told BBC Sport Wales.

"Gary was only one of a number of options we were looking to speak to, to see what their thoughts were."

It is understood 85-cap Speed is interested in taking up the job at the Liberty Stadium and the Swans will not just drop their interest.

Swansea chairman Jenkins has already given the strongest hint yet that the new boss will be British and said he hopes to have a new manager in place by the weekend.

Speed, who was born in Mancot, Flintshire has gained his Uefa pro licence coaching qualification and has made no secret of his desire to one day become a manager.

As a player, Speed featured for Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers before joining the Blades, becoming the first footballer to reach 500 Premier League appearances.

Earlier this week Wales manager John Toshack tipped him as a possible successor to Sousa.

"Gary has been around a long time but hasn't been the number-one man yet," Toshack told BBC Sport Wales.

606: DEBATE Jenkins spin to throw you off the scent! He stated that he had heard nothing from Leicester, then the next day he was gone to them! DragonPhilljack

Speed was understood to be high on the Swans list last year when they were looking to fill the void left by Roberto Martinez, who left for Wigan Athletic.

The link for Speed tied in with the Swans looking to change their approach by opting against a third successive foreign manager, but they were linked with former West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola on Friday.

Zola's British assistant Steve Clarke was also linked but the attention has been on Speed who also fits the bill of Jenkins' desire for an ambitious young manager.

"Most of the young managers doing well happen to be British because they start off at those clubs," Jenkins told BBC Sport Wales.

"Most of the experienced foreign managers come in and take a lot of the jobs further up the ladder.

"The younger British manager in my own view has a lot to offer.

"Paul Trollope at Bristol Rovers, Terry Skiverton at Yeovil, Keith Hill at Rochdale and Eddie Howe at Bournemouth have all worked miracles on small budgets.

"Nigel Adkins has also worked miracles at Scunthorpe and has done a very good job and is very loyal to the club."

Swansea's last two managers have been foreign - Spaniard Roberto Martinez and his Portuguese successor Paulo Sousa, who quit for Leicester City on Sunday.

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