Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has hailed Brendan Rodgers's impact at Swansea, and called for more home-grown managers in the Barclays Premier League.
Pardew worked alongside the Swansea boss during his time in charge at Reading, where Rodgers was youth team coach, and has watched on impressed this season as the Swans claimed a win over Manchester City, held Chelsea to a draw and sit well above the relegation battle.
Pardew praised their attacking flair and 39-year-old Rodgers, saying: "He's always had a very clear vision of how the game should be played and he's stuck to his principles and I admire him very much for that."
He said while young coaches should be promoted, "in this country it goes the other way".
"If you've got an accent then suddenly bring in a different system on the pitch, you're applauded and given a top job in the Premier League, so it's nice to see an Englishman get a shout for once," Pardew continued, "Well, actually he's Irish so I beg your pardon Brendan."
"You have to say that Swansea have attacked the game and tried to play and been encouraged to play and taken chances when perhaps they shouldn't take chances, and done it admirably.
"They've got themselves security I think for next year already so they can plan for next year and bring one or two players on top of the players they've got.
"Some of those players deserve a lot more praise than they've been getting - Leon Britton, Scott Sinclair, Ashley Williams, they've been absolutely outstanding."
But Pardew takes his side to Liberty Stadium on Friday on a three-game winning run, while Swansea have lost their last two league games, and he is confident that his side's recent results will help to level the playing field in what he expects to be a tough trip.
"We've managed to beat teams who are on their game and that's very important," he said. "We've had a couple of upsets here and there in a positive way and upsets in a negative way, but what we have been is consistent. It's a very competitive league. We've been competitive every game."
Source: PA
