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It comes as no surprise but finally Swansea City have got their man and Graham Potter is the latest manager in the Liberty Stadium hotseat.

The 43-year-old has arrived in South Wales - along with assistant Billy Reid and recruitment analyst Kyle Macaulay - and put pen to paper on a three-year deal to become Carlos Carvalhal's successor.

But how has the ex-England Under-21 international come to be the chosen man, and what gave him the edge over the other contenders considered?

Here we take a look at how events unfolded.

Carlos bites the dust

At one stage, when Swansea were going great guns in their fight for Premier League survival, it had looked highly likely that Carvalhal would be the man in charge for the 2018-19 campaign, whatever the final outcome.

But the Portuguese's move to apply the handbrake just as Swansea had edged clear of trouble ended up producing a nine-match winless run that ended Swansea's top-flight stay.

A decision over his future was taken before the season had even come to an end, and it can be revealed that the former Sheffield Wednesday boss was nearly dismissed in the wake of the defeat against Southampton.

The leading contender proves to be a familiar face

All of which meant Swansea knew full well they would be seeking a fifth manager in barely 19 months and it was apparent from the outset that Potter was going to be among the leading candidates, with WalesOnline outlining Swansea's plans to approach the Ostersunds boss on the same day as news of Carvalhal's impending dismissal broke .

Potter had twice been interviewed for the Swans job previously - after the sackings of Garry Monk and Paul Clement - as well as being lined up for a role on the coaching staff.

With Ostersunds and Swansea enjoying a good relationship dating back over a decade, Potter had remained firmly on the radar and he was all-but certain to be the leading candidate for the vacancy.

Contact between the two clubs over Potter was made early on, although Ostersunds chairman Daniel Kindberg regularly stated that was not the case, and discussions began in earnest.

A shortlist emerges

(Image: Getty Images)

Alongside Potter, other names would quickly start to emerge with the bookies including the likes of Chris Coleman, Cameron Toshack, Alan Pardew, Frank de Boer, Michael Laudrup and Dean Smith among the contenders.

Coleman - who has been routinely linked with the Swans job in recent years - did not want the role and has since taken up a lucrative position in China, while Laudrup and Pardew were never under consideration.

Brentford boss Smith was thought to be of interest to the Swans given the impressive job he has done at Griffin Park on a relatively small budget, but it is understood he was not among the candidates interviewed.

An impressive interview

Instead the three main men spoken to were Potter, De Boer and the former Reading boss Jaap Stam, who were interviewed via conference call by chairman Huw Jenkins and the club's majority shareholders Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien.

Potter is understood to have made a big impression at this stage of the process, with his particular vision for getting Swansea back to playing an attractive brand of football in a squad underpinned by young and hungry players striking a chord with the club hierarchy.

There was a feeling that Potter would represent a clean slate and a chance to rebuild with a fresh pair of eyes to assess the situation. There would be no pre-conceived ideas and a progressive, innovative approach which it is hoped can shake the club back into life.

There were understood to be concerns over De Boer's man-management skills from his time at Crystal Palace, although his commitment to playing a good brand of football was not in doubt.

It was also felt that Stam too closely resembled some of Swansea's recent appointments in tending to revert to a more pragmatic set-up rather than having an innate belief in the sort of positive, attacking football the club want to foster.

Paving the way

(Image: PA)

That left Swansea to try to agree terms for their man, a process complicated by the fact Ostersunds were bang in the middle of their Allsvenskan campaign, which runs through the summer.

Potter himself is also understood to have sought reassurances over the club's plans for the future, as well as clarity on the structure he would be working in, and his plans to bring Reid and Macaulay with him.

There was also the matter of agreeing compensation for the trio to move to Swansea as they were all under contract in Sweden.

The understanding was that the fee involved would be nominal, yet negotiations over a settlement did not move as quickly as would have been liked, leading to frustration for supporters as the finer details were worked over.

During this period Potter was also away on a family holiday, something that had long been booked given he was expecting this period to be part of a mid-season break as the Allsvenskan halts for the World Cup.

Swansea get their man

But there was never any doubt that Swansea would get their man and when it was confirmed that compensation and personal terms had been agreed it was always a case of when, rather than if, Potter would sign on in South Wales.

That process has now been completed and he will be formally unveiled as Swans boss on Tuesday, and will get down to work quickly ahead of a major summer and a vital campaign for the club.

He has been Swansea's first choice from the get-go, for him to be the right man he needs time and support .