Joe Allen: Swansea City leave door open for departing coach as Leon Britton and Kristian O’Leary stay on

Matos’ backroom team eventually followed him to Wales the following month – after work permit issues were sorted out – but Swansea then announced that Allen and Britton were to stay on.

While Allen, who only retired as a player 12 months ago, is now moving on, Britton, 43, is stay on as a coach alongside O’Leary, who returned to Swansea’s first-team staff for a second spell in 2022.

Matos says Wales great Allen made a “fantastic” contribution during his unplanned spell as a coach.

But he explained that Allen’s role was never likely to be for the long term, with the former Liverpool and Stoke City player unsure whether he wants to pursue a career on the touchline.

“He was quite clear that it was not something that he was 100% sure that he wants to do for his future, which is quite fair as well,” Matos said.

“We gave him this option, we gave him the possibility.

“Unfortunately it came to an end, but for sure it is not an end for the future, I hope for just a period of time.”