Sheffield United have turned down a second approach from Swansea City to take Gary Speed on as manager.

The Liberty Stadium club had a bid turned down on Friday and have been thwarted again in their ongoing manager search to replace new Leicester boss Paulo Sousa.

However a source close to Speed said that he was disappointed that the approach was turned down and wants to speak to Swansea about the vacancy.

“Gary is very disappointed Sheffield United have refused him permission to talk to Swansea,” a source close to 40-year-old Speed said on Sunday.

“He wanted to [talk to Swansea] and fancied the job.

“He’s been trying since Thursday to get them to change their mind given he only has one year left on his [Blades] coaching contract and has made it clear he would like the Swansea job.”

Speed, a former Wales international with 40 caps for his country, has already obtained his Uefa pro qualification and is expected now to be out of the running for the Swans managers role.

Chairman Huw Jenkins had hoped to appoint a manager on Monday however after Sheffield’s second rejection may take a few more days to announce a manager.

Former assistant manager Graeme Jones is now expected to be offered the job despite no official approach made to current club Wigan for his services, however Jenkins admits that there are “two or three” other candidates to take over in South Wales.

Jon Osterland