By David Dulin

Gus Poyet is keen to make his mark as a club manager

Gus Poyet has confirmed he is interested in succeeding Roberto Martinez as manager of Swansea City.

The 41-year-old former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder has been made favourite for the job, with some bookmakers slashing his odds.

Poyet is ready to take the step up to management after spells as an assistant at Spurs, Leeds and Swindon.

"I would really be interested in the job," the ex-Uruguay international told BBC Sport Wales.

"I would really like to go there, it would be a great opportunity."

Poyet has already held talks with Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, as has Sheffield United player coach Gary Speed and former Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd.

Poyet is understood to have impressed the Swansea management in his interview.

Jenkins says the aforementioned trio are among 20 people he has spoken to, with "one or two more" contenders he still has to meet on Wednesday.

"Once they are out of the way, we should have a clearer picture," he added.

Jenkins said his shortlist is down to "about six main people" and is hoping to have a new man in place by the end of this week - only a few days before the players return for pre-season training on 25 June.

Poyet, who won 26 caps for Uruguay, has been out of work since being sacked alongside manager Juande Ramos at Spurs in October 2008.

606: DEBATE I think this guy could do a job for us, his South American style could bode well for our squad and he loves to see the ball being played on the ground Badfinger_Taffy

Poyet later turned down the chance to team up again with Ramos, who had been appointed manager of Real Madrid, preferring to stay in the UK and find his own management job.

He has been linked to a number of positions since his departure from White Hart Lane, most recently Reading and Watford, with those roles going to Brendan Rodgers and Malky Mackay respectively.

Poyet has been long tipped for a future in management after successful spells as number two to Dennis Wise at Leeds and Swindon.

The former River Plate player has taken over Sheffield United's Speed as favourite to succeed Martinez.

Speed, who was capped 85 times by Wales and played for Newcastle, Everton and Bolton, has been given odds of 6-4 for the job.

The 39-year-old has a year left on his Bramall Lane contract but is keen to get into management and recently passed his Uefa Pro Licence qualification.

Former Watford boss Boothroyd, 38, has "declared an interest" in the job but is third favourite at 7-1.

Boothroyd, who took the Hornets into the Premier League for a season in 2006, has been out of work since leaving Vicarage Road last November by mutual consent.

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