Luke Williams, the former Swansea manager, has taken up a new role at Bristol airport, as revealed by a viral photo of him donning a high-visibility jacket. The 44-year-old was put on gardening leave in February this year and has since transitioned to an entirely different work environment.
Williams, who has previously worked with Swindon and Notts County, gained recognition for his successful stint with the latter, leading them to promotion from the National League via the play-offs and securing their position in League Two.
His unique style of football garnered much praise, and upon his departure from Meadow Lane, his team were the top scorers in the Football League. However, his tenure at Swansea was short-lived, lasting just over a year before he was dismissed.
A string of seven losses in nine matches led the Swansea management to seek a change earlier this year, resulting in Williams’ dismissal. Despite likely receiving a severance package from the Championship club, the 44-year-old has been eager to stay active.
Consequently, he’s taken on a role assisting disabled and limited-mobility passengers at Bristol Airport. He began his new job two weeks ago.
A snapshot of the former Swansea manager has been circulating, showing Williams donning his high-vis jacket and lanyard as he exits a lift in Bristol Airport, ranked as the eighth busiest in the UK. The ex-Notts County gaffer, known for his strong work ethic, has disclosed that to support his initial coaching ambitions, he took on jobs loading lorries for BHS and ferrying party-goers to clubs and airports.
In a candid interview with The Guardian about his dedication to hard graft, he said: “Sometimes I would work 20 hours off the bat, get three or four hours’ kip, back to work. In my opinion motivation in life is everything.
“The realisation in my late-teens that life is going to be a monumental struggle for me, that life was about to become very tough and the world would become very hostile for somebody with no qualifications, no contacts, working class … that desire to feed myself and look after myself kicked in.
“I realised that I was capable of tolerating almost anything, providing that I would be able to have a roof over my head and something to eat. That is how the motivation began. I don’t think I’ve really moved away from that. I still feel as insecure in that way as I ever did.”