Swans skipper Garry Monk will lead his team out at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon proud to be spearheading the club's final push for the play-offs.

But the club's inspirational captain admits he could have been running out in Barnsley colours instead of the black and white of Swansea if fate had dealt him a different hand.

Monk had made the move to Barnsley on loan from Premier League Southampton back in November 2003. And it looked as if the move would become permanent the following summer.

In fact, Monk was so confident that he slammed down a hefty deposit on a new house in Barnsley.

But it was a deposit, and a house, that Monk would never see again.

"I originally joined Barnsley on a three-month loan deal,'' explained Monk. "Things went well and after the loan period ended, Barnsley bought out the last two months of my contract at Southampton and I moved on a permanent deal.

"Unfortunately, I twisted my ankle and missed a few weeks just when they brought in a new manager in Paul Hart.

"I was happy at the club though and I had a meeting with Peter Ridsdale, who was chairman at Barnsley at the time, plus another one of the directors a couple of weeks before the end of the season.

"I think I was one of nine players called in to discuss our futures at the club. But he told me there was a two-year contract there for me in the summer, which I was delighted with, and I started looking around for a house to buy in the area.

"But after I twisted my ankle I was a bit worried because I hadn't played for a few weeks.

"I was concerned that the contract was still going to be there for me at the end of the season, so I went to see the chairman again because I needed to put a deposit down on a house I'd found.

"He said everything was okay and to go and buy the house. Unfortunately, that was the last I saw of the deposit; I lost the lot.

"Although I recovered from the ankle injury to play the last game of the season, Paul Hart called me into the office and said he wasn't offering me a contract because he hadn't seen enough of me.

"I looked at the chairman in disbelief, but he couldn't even look at me, let alone look me in the eye.

"I said it was a joke, or words to that effect, slammed the door behind me and said goodbye to Barnsley.

"It was a shame because it was - and still is - a really nice club. They had good facilities, the club staff were great and the fans were really friendly. I was happy there.

"But looking back now I suppose some things aren't meant to be. If the chairman had kept his promise of a contract, I wouldn't have ended up at Swansea.

"I've loved every minute of my time at Swansea and, looking at the way my career has developed here, then in a way I wish I'd joined earlier.''

Monk's early grounding had started at Torquay where his performances as a first year YTS not only secured him England Under-17 honours, but also a place in the Torquay first team at just 16.

But Torquay were a selling club at the time and they allowed him to go on a pre-season tour with Southampton to Germany. Monks impressed in the tournament and the Saints splashed out £200,000 for the 17-year-old.

And while he was still classed as a second-year YTS, a two-year professional contract had already been agreed at the end of it and he plied his trade alongside the likes of Matt Le Tissier, Mark Hughes, Gordan Strachan, Graeme Souness and Glenn Hoddle.

Although he went on to make his Premier League debut for the Saints at the age of 19 under, of all people, current Cardiff City boss Dave Jones in 1998, Monk's appearances were limited to just 11 games.

And even though he played against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton, he knew he had to take a step back to move forward.

He had already experienced loan spells at Stockport, Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday, before he looked to have settled at Barnsley where he made 17 league appearances.

But you know the story there - and Monk has certainly never looked back since signing for the Swans in July 2004.

Having helped the club win promotion from League Two in 2004-05, the final season at the old Vetch Field, a League One play-off final defeat and a Football League Trophy triumph followed the next season.

Promotion wasn't far away though as the Swans clinched the League One title in 2007-08 to return to Championship level for the first time in 24 years, with Monk one of five Swansea players named in the PFA League One team of the season.

A memorable FA Cup campaign followed last time out with victory at holders Portsmouth and two impressive displays against Premier League Fulham.

Although the Championship play-offs were just out of reach Monk, who has now made nearly 200 appearances for the Swans, will be hoping to go one better this season with a big finish in Swansea colours.

So as he leads the two teams out today, any regrets about leaving Barnsley for Swansea?

"Of course I have,'' adds Monk. "I wish I hadn't handed over that bleeding deposit!''