These are the latest Swansea City stories making headlines on Saturday, July 8.
Piroe on the scoresheet
Joel Piroe hit the ground running in Swansea's first game of pre-season on Saturday.
The Dutchman, linked with a plethora of clubs this summer, scored the first goal of the Michael Duff era in 2-0 win over Haverfordwest in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Fairwood.
The 23-year-old nodded home a Matt Grimes corner for a relatively strong first-half XI against their west Wales opposition.
Piroe was subbed at half-time along with the entire starting line-up as youngster Josh Thomas added the gloss on a decent runout for Duff's men.
On Saturday WalesOnline revealed Serie A club Atalanta and Championship club Leicester City had been in touch with Piroe's camp over a summer move.
Martin reveals Swans 'pain'
Russell Martin says he is loving life at new club Southampton but revealed it was painful to leave Swansea.
Martin was finally announced as the Saints' new boss last month after a protracted saga between the two clubs
It brought to an end a two-year spell in south Wales, a period which the former Norwich City defender enjoyed. He held a farewell party with players and staff before he left for the south coast, a move he said was difficult because of the connections he made in south Wales.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, he said: “I 100 per cent feel like it’s the right decision but it also doesn’t make it an easy decision.
“When you choose to leave a club where you care about people and about helping them, there are people who have supported us 100 per cent, it was incredible, amazing.
“When you care about that it’s always painful, but it also gives you the potential for really brilliant moments, brilliant experiences and brilliant connections.
“I’m grateful we had all of that and I’m grateful we had a bit of pain leaving as well, if I didn’t my time there would have been pretty pointless having not made a mark on people or them having not made a mark on me.”
He added: “We’re absolutely loving it, there’s no regret or anything. My family are still living in Swansea at the moment while I try and find a house, I was back there on Sunday as we had a day off because the lads were knackered.
“It’s a lovely place and everybody I bumped into wished me all the best, so that has been really nice. It’s a big change for all of us but it’s one we all agreed we wanted to do, one we’ll agree and one that is right for all of us.”
Simms joins Coventry
Ellis Simms says it was Mark Robins who convinced him to join Coventry City.
Swansea had been credited with interest in the former Everton striker and was rumoured to have visited the city earlier this month.
The Sky Blues have now shelled out £8million to bring in the 22-year-old to the club and it was Robins' homework on the youngster that sealed it for him.
"The conversation I had with the manager," he told the official Coventry website. "He showed great belief in me and the Club as a whole are on the way up and it seems like it will be a big season or us.
"He has done his research on me, and he likes the way I play, he thinks I will be a good addition to the team.
"He knows I can score goals and he knows my strengths and I’m sure once I get on the grass he can teach me a few things and give me the support and the run of games for me to kick on."
Trunds' anniversary
Today marks the day 20 years ago that Lee Trundle signed for Swansea.
To say he became a fan favourite would be an understatement after penning a deal from Wrexham in the summer of 2003.
Trundle would go on to achieve hero status at the club and in the city.
He wrote on Instagram: "20 years ago today i signed for @swansofficial and it was the best move of my life."
The passion for the game is still burning bright for Trunds, 46, who has just joined Mumbles Rangers.
