CARDIFF, Wales - Garry Monk was handed the Swansea managers job Wednesday on a permanent basis after keeping the south Wales club in the Premier League. Martin Montoya Barcelona Jersey . The 35-year-old Monk signed a three-year contract, three months after stepping up from the playing squad to replace the fired Michael Laudrup. "I have had a taste of the job for the last three months and its something Ive really enjoyed," Monk said. "Now Im really looking forward to the next phase in my life and the clubs progression." Monk has been at Swansea for a decade, playing a key role in defence and as captain as the team climbed from the fourth tier to the Premier League, and then won its first major piece of silverware — the 2013 League Cup. "Garry represents all the strong values we hold so dearly as a football club," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said. "We have all been impressed with his work-rate and commitment since taking over the reins in February and how he adapted in very difficult circumstances to secure the points we needed to remain in the topflight." Swansea heads into the final match of the campaign against Sunderland on Sunday in 13th place, and preparing for a fourth season in the Premier League. "We all agreed that we needed to get back to basics and reinforce the principles that have brought us success in recent years," Jenkins said. Ibrahim Afellay Jersey .C. - The New Orleans Saints will have to wait another week for a chance to clinch a playoff spot. Custom Barcelona Jersey . Another is a bunch of groundballs. Finally, theres a game that lasts two hours six minutes. Pavano kept up his recent surge with an efficient six-hitter for the Twins in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.SAN CANDIDO, Italy - Canadian Dave Duncan is hitting his stride just in time for the Winter Olympics. Duncan of London, Ont., won his second skicross World Cup in as many days on Sunday, rocketing him to the top of the mens overall rankings and qualifying him for the Sochi Games in February. "From the outhouse to the penthouse," said Duncan, who skied on the international circuit for five years before winning his first World Cup on Saturday. "Its pretty hard to sum up everything thats happened this weekend. Its an incredible feeling. "I know thats a troublesome word, but the truth of it is that describes how much this means to me to get that first win and not even have to wait 24 hours to get a second one. I mean, this is the stuff you dream of." Duncan finished ahead of Austrias Andreas Matt and Germanys Daniel Bohnacker. Calgarys Brady Leman was fourth in the final after a mid-air collision knocked him off course. "In the final I was battling, trying to move up," said Leman. "I was fourth for a bit, third for a bit, I was really battling with Andy Matt and in the end we kind of got tangled up and then I missed a gate and that was it." In womens competition, Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., finished second behind Switzerlands Katrin Mueller. German teammates Heidi Zacher and Anna Woerner were third and fourth, respectively. The silver medal kept Thompson atop the overall womens rankings. "Today was just awesome," said Thompson. "I just won every start and really showed where my skiings at. Im really excited to have the leader bib back again. IIt just goes to show that all that training I did this summer is paying off. Jeremy Mathieu Barcelona Jersey. "Im just feeling really great." Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, B.C., won the small final, placing fifth overall. "Id much rather be in the final, but when I get in the small final I get all fired up and tell myself OK, this is my shot at the podium so youd better churn out a fifth-place finish," said Serwa. Canadas skicross team made the podium fives times over the weekend, bumping several of its members into contention for spots at the Olympics. Duncan and Leman are guaranteed spots in the mens skicross event at Sochi, while Thompson is a lock for the women. Serwa will likely make it as a "Tier 2" skier, while Vancouvers Georgia Simmerling is "Tier 3" and considered very close to making the Olympics. Montreals Chris Del Bosco and Tristan Tafel of Canmore, Alta., havent yet made the minimum points to lock into Tier 3, although a World Cup podium finish would put either one into the second tier. "Training with the top guys in the world, it just creates an environment of excellence and I know that if Im able to beat (Leman) or (Del Bosco) in a training run you can feel pretty good leaving that camp, knowing that youre on pace to have a good year," said Duncan. "I think theyll probably say the same thing about their training. "It just helps training with the guys that we do. We all push each other, we all cheer for each other, we all strive for the top. So well just keep on doing that and hopefully itll take us to some pretty cool results in Sochi." cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '