Yahoo Sports Swans 'move on' as Cabango replaces Grimes as captain
Luke Williams says Swansea City must "quickly move on" from the Matt Grimes era after naming Ben Cabango as the club's new captain.
Grimes is on the brink of completing a move to Coventry City, bringing an end to a 10-year spell as a Swansea player.
The 29-year-old has been a key figure for Swansea since the club's relegation from the Premier League seven years ago, and has played a pivotal midfield role in Williams' Swans side.
But the Swansea head coach says Swansea were "not able to convince" Grimes to stay at the club once Coventry's interest emerged last week.
"I was a bit shocked initially but of course you have to move on very quickly and say thank you for everything he did for us," Williams said.
"That's the nature of the business we work in - it's extremely competitive. It's a jungle, dog eat dog."
Grimes is expected to sign a long-term Coventry contract which will see his salary rise significantly.
He was the top earner at Swansea – where he signed a new deal only last August – but the Welsh club are understood to have quickly ruled out the idea of offering him fresh terms in an attempt to counter Coventry's offer to the player.
"We couldn't agree anything here and he and his family made the decision that another option was better for him, for their own reasons," Williams said.
"I am not in the correct position to talk about all the reasons - there are many I'm sure.
"If it was just so simple that he preferred to play for one team over the other, then that would be hurtful. But the reasons are more than that."
When asked if wages are a key factor in Grimes' move to the CBS Arena, Williams added: "I don't know the ins and outs of the personal terms. I don't think he will be hard up for a couple of quid, but I don't know the ins and outs."
Though disappointed to lose one of his top performers, Williams said financially the Grimes transfer is a "very good deal" for Swansea.
The Welsh club's challenge is to try to replace Grimes, with Williams hoping to sign at least one midfielder before the transfer window closes on Monday.
He says Swansea "will have to evolve" their style of play without Grimes, who is undergoing a medical on Thursday.
As things stand, Grimes could conceivably be in contention to make his Coventry debut in their Championship fixture at Swansea this Saturday.
Swansea say they would be powerless to stop Grimes featuring once a transfer is finalised, though the move would need be completed before midday on Friday for the former Exeter player to be eligible this weekend.
"Once the deal has been made, the player is a member of a different club and is available to them as they wish," Williams said.
"But deals are not always done super quickly because there's a lot to it. The fact is he may not be able to play for either team."
Williams, meanwhile, says it was a "pretty easy decision" to hand the armband to Wales centre-back Cabango.
"Ben is very much in the mould of a leader and a warrior and it is his time to shine now," he said.
"He has all the leadership qualities - he tries to motivate people, he'll give people a ticking off at the right time and encourage those around him when they need that encouragement.
"Ben is very happy to take on the challenge. He knows what it means and he is very proud to lead the team."
