Dorus De Vries has backed his countryman Ferrie Bodde to shine after he elected to stay at Swansea

De Vries - Swansea's first choice keeper - was celebrating with the rest the news that Ferrie had signed a long term deal to stay at the club despite bids and mind games from Derby County.

De Vres - ever present in the league last season - played both halves of last night's 5-0 win in Neath and watched his friend make a scoring return to the side - Bodde notched a second half penalty in the rout.

And De Vries believes that Bodde will shine for the Swans as they prepare for life in the Championship for the first time in 24 years.  He told the Western Mail "It was an on-going story and it was difficult for Ferrie seeing his name all over the papers about his situation

“This type of thing had never happened to him before, it was difficult for him and perhaps he didn’t know how to deal with things in the best way.

“He had not had this kind of interest in him before, but it is always going to happen with players of his ability who perform as well as he did last season.

“And I can understand Ferrie’s ambitions when some big clubs were being talked about because Derby do have a higher stature than us at the moment. He knew that so he was always going to think about it and look at his options.

“Every player has personal ambitions and some time a transfer happens, sometimes it’s not the right thing.

“With so much going on it was hard for him, but now he has made his decision and he is determined to do well for Swansea City and the fans should back him.

“Ferrie is a special player with great abilities on and off the ball so it is great news for us,” he said.

“He did great things for us last year and he can do even getter things at a higher level because his great talent will show up even further."

Photo: Action Images

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