Williams: I want to star for Swans and Wales

Mar 30 2008 by Chris Wathan, Wales On Sunday

ASHLEY WILLIAMS has revealed how getting a taste for the high-life saw him fly off to join the Swans.

Williams spent his first days as an international player with Wales glued to his phone as Swansea hammered out a loan deal for the defender.

And the centre-back admitted making the step-up to Wales cap convinced him swapping Stockport for Swansea was a must.

“I know John Toshack hasn’t been afraid of playing League Two players but it’s true that when you get a taste of international football you want to stay involved. And I knew playing at a higher level would help that,” said 23-year-old Williams. “I definitely want it and Stockport knew my ambition was to play Championship football at least if I could and they respected that.

“Every footballer wants to play as high as they can. I wanted to move up and see where it took me.

“Just being with Wales was a great experience for me and rubbing shoulders with guys of that level and above just underlined that ambition.” Williams raced back from Cardiff Airport after jetting in from the midweek friendly in Luxembourg to complete the loan switch, signing the forms still in his Wales tracksuit.

And the short-term stay is expected to be made a permanent deal once the season ends, with Roberto Martinez understood to be prepared to pay what would be a club record £350,000 for the highly-rated Midlander.

And with the Swans already eyeing up playing in a higher divison next year, Williams outlined why he could be a hit at the Liberty.

“The season has gone better than I ever could have expected so far but I’ve just played my game and let things happen,” he said. “And as far as the step from League Two is concerned, I think I could cope. I try to be comfortable on the ball and I think my reading of the game is one of my strengths and that could help me.

“Swansea like to get the ball down and play, which suits me. A big pull was getting the chance to work for a young manager like Roberto, who wants to play the game in the right way.”

But Williams admitted after making his debut in midweek it was only a stroke of luck that his Welsh connection came to light.

“Brian Flynn had come to watch Wayne Hennessey when on loan last year and when he saw the name Williams he just phoned Stockport to ask if I had any Welsh connection,” he said.

“I knew I did but strangely enough it is through my mother’s side as her name is Rowlands; so it was quite lucky.

“I think I managed to impress him and it’s gone from there.”