"Willie can definitely play in League One and any club looking to get out of that division should take a look at him," Lawrence, now director of football at Bristol Rovers, told the Western Mail.
"He's a terrific competitor and would be a great signing for Swansea.
"With Willie you know exactly what you're going to get between 3pm and 4.45pm on a Saturday afternoon.
"He's a combative player who gets other people at it both in training and in matches.
"He played under a lot of different managers, but, no matter who was there, Willie always played and that tells its own story.
"He's a very fit boy, he can't half get about the pitch. And he's also versatile - he was an integral part of the 4-3-3 system I played when I first took over.
"People forget he played wide right in the play-off final against QPR.
"He's someone who just gets on with his job. In many ways he's a manager's dream. He'd be a very good signing for Kenny Jackett."
Another former City player, Martin Giles, is back in league football after signing for League 2 side Hereford Utd. He will join up with another former Bluebird, Stuart Fleetwood.