Tancock's praise for Youth set-up

Swans youngster Scott Tancock has hailed the club's participation in the new Development League Two South set-up as a big success.

With Kristian O'Leary in charge, the Youth team embarked in the new structure this season which changed from the usual Reserves league.

Aimed at developing Under-19s and below, Tancock feels the young talents at the Liberty have benefited greatly from a system which is solely based on development rather than results.

The 19-year-old Swansea product, who signed his first pro contract last summer, said: "I think it has gone well for us.

"It's different to the Reserve level, and I think personally - and as a team - there has been an improvement.

"This is a development league and that's the main focus for us. Yes, it is nice to win football matches but if we are developing as footballers and we've played a lot of U18s this season.

"In the earlier half of the season we had a few of the senior players involved which did help as we gained from their experience.

"But for the majority of the season we have grown as a very young team - the majority of the team is U18s.

"The performances at the latter end of the season showed that we have got stronger as a team.

"We all love playing the Swans way. It works for us - that's from the senior side to the youngest age group."

Following the remarkable rise of 20-year-old Ben Davies in the senior set-up this season, centre-back Tancock has hailed the Neath product as a role model for those aspiring to make it in Michael Laudrup's team.

Davies made his senior debut off the bench in the home win over West Ham in the Barclays Premier League last August.

Following Neil Taylor's ankle injury sustained in September, Davies has been the first choice left-back for club and country.

Tancock added: "We've all seen how well Ben has done this season and that is a major incentive for us.

"He has taken his chance and proved that we have some good, young talent at this club.

"Ben went straight into the Premier League and playing against the best in the world, but he has shown how good a player he is.

"All of the players in the Youth team and below all look up to Ben. He's a great example of someone who has worked hard, learned as much as he can from everyone around him, and taken his opportunity."