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Chairman’s Statement.

Discussion in 'Swansea City' started by neveroffsidereff, May 21, 2019.

  1. neveroffsidereff

    neveroffsidereff Well-Known Member

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    UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
    Club Tue 21 May 2019, 5:25PM

    FOLLOWING THE DEPARTURE OF GRAHAM POTTER AS MANAGER, I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO INFORM SUPPORTERS OF THE CLUB’S EARLY THOUGHTS AND PLANS MOVING FORWARD.

    Since my appointment as chairman in March it has already proved a very busy period – none more so than in the past few weeks.

    We find ourselves in a period of transition once again but that is part and parcel of football. We are, however, determined to build on the progress we made during the past year.

    Graham’s departure was hugely disappointing but we now have to look forward to identifying a new manager who understands the club’s beliefs and is hungry to work with our young talent.

    The process is already under way and at the same time steps will be taken to putting in place a new recruitment structure to create stability for the club going forward.



    SEARCH FOR A NEW MANAGER

    I didn’t anticipate having to search for a new manager this summer, but it just reinforces how unpredictable football can be.

    I understand there is always a lot of uncertainty and rumours generated upon naming a new manager and I’m under no illusion as to the importance of this decision at this stage in the club’s development.

    I have already had a significant number of applications from around the world; but that’s not surprising as it is an attractive job and the amount of interest at this early stage is testament to the club’s pulling power. It’s a great opportunity for an ambitious coach.

    Last season, seeing the young players, many of whom graduated from the academy, playing first-team football the Swansea Way gave supporters great enjoyment and the new manager will have to buy into that philosophy. They played a huge number of minutes – among the highest in the EFL for under-23s - and provide a great foundation on which to build.


    With that in mind, one key criteria in identifying the new manager will be that he can work with these young players and help them to improve. That is crucial.

    Above all though, the manager must have the passion, desire, hunger and work rate to take this club forward.

    It’s been a difficult period falling out of the Premier League, but hopefully the past year has seen the club rediscover its values on the pitch. Now we must continue that progression under a new manager.



    GRAHAM POTTER

    It is important for supporters to understand that the last thing we wanted was for Graham to leave and we went to great lengths in order to persuade him to stay.

    I discussed our approach with board members, the majority owners and Stuart McDonald, the Trust's supporter director. We were all in agreement that we should try our utmost to convince Graham to stay. We realised the value that was being created and therefore we were keen to continue with that strategy.


    The offer we made him included an enhanced remuneration package and a longer-term contract, together with assurances, within our financial constraints, regarding future player recruitment.

    It was a very generous offer to stay, but ultimately we have to be realistic, he had the opportunity to join a Premier League club and that is incredibly difficult for an ambitious young manager to turn down in a very fragile managerial world.

    But we have to move on, and we now begin our search for a new manager.



    RECRUITMENT SET-UP

    With the loss of Graham and his team we will take this opportunity to put in place, behind the scenes, an organisational structure that will bring stability and ensure continuity so that any future managerial changes will have the minimum impact.

    Therefore, I will be looking to hire a new Head of Recruitment and build a robust scouting structure, which we don’t have at present.

    I am going to enlist the help of professional recruiters to assist in finding the most suitable person for the position because it will play such a significant role in the future success of the club.

    I would like to think that it will be a quick process, but it may not be and will depend on the suitability of available candidates and their circumstances.


    I am also going to appoint Leon Britton as Football Advisor to the board of directors. Together with Alan Curtis, our new Club President, he will also be part of a recruitment board that I’m putting together that will review and assess candidates and assist me in the interviewing and selection of the new manager.

    This board, together with the new Head of Recruitment, will also assist in future player recruitment. Alan and Leon know more than anyone what this club is all about, so their knowledge and advice will be invaluable.

    Although the Head of Recruitment will put the system in place to identify players and Alan and Leon will have their input, I must stress that the new manager will have the final say on which players we eventually sign.

    I am passionate about having an organisational structure and proper due process behind the scenes that is robust and sustainable and provides continuity to us going forward.



    PLAYING SQUAD

    We all know the club has considerable financial issues to deal with as a result of relegation from the Premier League.

    We have to re-balance our squad to cope with life in the Championship and there will be player movements both in and out. That’s the harsh facts of football life.

    However, there will not be a fire sale of players and we recognise we have to balance achieving the right sale prices with maintaining a competitive squad.

    The players who were out of contract and have recently left the club helps ease the financial situation, but there are still players on the payroll which the club simply cannot afford and that is something we want to address as quickly as possible this transfer window.


    On a more positive note I met with Wayne Routledge yesterday and had a very good conversation with him about re-signing for the forthcoming season.

    He’s an extremely articulate and intelligent man and has a great future ahead of him after he’s finished playing. But I am extremely hopeful that we can retain him for a further year as a player first as his experience and maturity will be of great benefit in the dressing room with the younger players going forward.

    Hopefully we will have some good news on Wayne’s future very soon.



    I know these are difficult and uncertain times for the club but I remain positive about the future and will continue to work as hard as I possibly can to bring success back to the club.

    Trevor Birch
     
    #1
  2. neveroffsidereff

    neveroffsidereff Well-Known Member

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    Interesting statement, talks a good game, so let’s see if he can delivery now.
     
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  3. trundles left foot

    trundles left foot Well-Known Member

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    ****ing Blah Blah Blah, usual rot that means nothing, they have never followed through on any statement they have made. Just the usual spin bollox.
     
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  4. PGFWhite

    PGFWhite Well-Known Member

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    If he does what he says it’ll be a step in the right direction.

    It does show there appears to be a poor organisational structure at the Club, including recruitment, and that was something the Yanks said they would sort out a long time ago.

    New chairman, new manager - all we need now is new owners.

    #yanksout
     
    #4
  5. trundles left foot

    trundles left foot Well-Known Member

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    That's the problem it is a big IF, we have heard it all before.
     
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  6. Taffvalerowdy

    Taffvalerowdy Well-Known Member

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  7. Matthew Bound Still Lurks

    Matthew Bound Still Lurks Well-Known Member

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    A decent statement of intent and nice to see that Curt and Leon still have a small part to play, but words are cheap ( the yanks favourite word) so I'll reserve judgement on Mr Birch , positive action is required not mealy mouthed statements.
     
    #7
    Last edited: May 21, 2019
  8. aswan_dam

    aswan_dam Well-Known Member

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    ...and good to see a u-turn on Wayne Routledge.
     
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  9. Taffvalerowdy

    Taffvalerowdy Well-Known Member

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    Fully agree - he did well when Potter eventually looked his way <cheers>
     
    #9
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  10. DragonPhilljack

    DragonPhilljack Well-Known Member

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    I don't pay much attention to club statements, not worth the paper they are written on......................<laugh>
     
    #10
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  11. FrankfurterBlue

    FrankfurterBlue Well-Known Member

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    I thought the most telling point was that HJ had recruited without a solid scouting system.
    Going forward, it looks like your U-23s are having to step up...but anyone successful will be needed to be sold to create the transfer profit needed every year.
     
    #11
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  12. aswan_dam

    aswan_dam Well-Known Member

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    Are you a hedge fund manager? Is your name Kaplan <laugh>
     
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  13. Taffvalerowdy

    Taffvalerowdy Well-Known Member

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    The annual selling spree will be needed until we hit the bed of the ocean after a few years of right-sizing the (costs of running the) Club.

    After that they could start investing in the playing squad ....... or paying dividends ......

    I wonder which approach will be adopted?
     
    #13
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  14. FrankfurterBlue

    FrankfurterBlue Well-Known Member

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    Naah...just a simple boy from the valleys!!!!!
     
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  15. NorfolkSwan

    NorfolkSwan Well-Known Member

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    Didn’t Potter confirm that Wayne had to waive the part of his contract that auto-renewed an extra year....

    The club wouldn’t let Potter play him until he did so...at least that’s what I’ve understood ...

    They can now offer him a fresh (much lower) contract thanks to Wayne agreeing to that waiver last year.
     
    #15
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  16. Taffvalerowdy

    Taffvalerowdy Well-Known Member

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    Not sure <cheers>
     
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  17. PGFWhite

    PGFWhite Well-Known Member

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    Yes. That's been in the Press over the last few days, I think it was a statement from Wayne himself. I can't remember where it is though!

    It could also explain why Narsingh wasn't being used.
     
    #17
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  18. swanseaandproud

    swanseaandproud Well-Known Member

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    I am very encouraged by the Chairman's statement of intent and fans have to realise all the work that goes on behind the scenes that we are not privy to........The Americans could have walked away and let us go into administration but fair play they didn't and have worked very hard and recruited a chairman who has a ton of experience and i like what he has to say....Everybody wants the club to be a success including the owners and we should be grateful that the work they have already done has improved things at the club and all we want now is to find a manager that fits into the clubs plans for the future....I'm sure they will...
     
    #18
  19. FrankfurterBlue

    FrankfurterBlue Well-Known Member

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    OMG! See! Now I'm worried for you again. Dai gives them a good, tick and a star....so you must be in trouble.
    Dai, they won't wlak away coz they lose all their dosh. It's simple. They are in for the long haul but they won't put any more money in. Cash is what is needed AS WELL AS cutting the coat according to the cloth.
     
    #19
  20. swanseaandproud

    swanseaandproud Well-Known Member

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    What absolute rubbish...How will they lose their dosh ffs? They own all the assets that they could have sold to anyone if they wanted to.....You cannot fail to see the good work that has already been done to stable the club and employed a good Chairman.... You can diss our club all you like but i would be more worried about your club if i was you.....They still cant get past one season in the premiership and that is pretty bad record to have....We had 7 seasons until Jenkins fcuked it up or we would be still there today.......Things are going well and i expect us to have the right manager that the chairman wants and there is money available for him to spend.....We are in a good position and a prosperous future is looking good......
     
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