Regardless of what other media outlets report we do know this morning that ‘discussions’ have taken place regards Swansea City’s Nathan Wood and Southampton. Those discussions won’t move forwards for a few more days based on circumstances within the club which as we reported yesterday we won’t divulge.

That doesn’t mean to say that there aren’t certain people within the recruitment department - in particular Sporting Director Paul Watson who haven’t got a ‘handle’ on interest in Swansea City players, and of course potential players coming in. Watson is fully informed. Any dialogue with regards Wood will be within the remit of Chairman Andrew Coleman, with the close liaison of Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan who head up the majority ownership. That cannot happen at this moment in time.

However, we expect matters to be clearer soon.

On Joel Piroe, again Paul Watson has knowledge of the clubs position with the player, and there have most certainly been discussions within the club on a new contract offer. Again, that won’t be progressed this week. To dismiss out of hand the very precise information that Sky Sports divulged yesterday morning regards Wood is not only inaccurate its pure guesswork which is potentially based on journalists consulting at the wrong level of knowledge within the club ( or source ) The same thing occurred when we reported Olivier Ntcham leaving Swansea City with ‘quotes’ from those involved in the deal for him to go to Samsunspor in Turkey.

It never should be considered by any journalist to dismiss information at any reporting level when they haven’t either got the access - or direct sourcing for the news at hand. What makes that worse in certain cases is accessing someone in a perceived position of knowledge for confirmation when their appointment doesn’t allow them to have that knowledge. If a person hasn’t been made privy to certain details for confidential reasons, or their appointment doesn’t necessitate it then more thought needs to be placed on ‘who’ is spoken to - and for what reason.

That’s becoming an issue more and more this season.

In the case of Wood and Piroe it is sometimes better to say nothing than something if the information at hand isn’t coming from the right level of knowledge. The Olivier Ntcham transfer the point in case. The first thing any mindful journalist should do every day before a pen is picked up or a telephone call made is assess the details that are known, then plan what answers you potentially need to make your story more robust and professional.

I will admit, and be the first to say we have made numerous mistakes in the past, however we always admit the error and try and redress those issues immediately. People will always look for the good when the ‘bad’ has been managed enough to move on. That learning curve at any age or journalistic qualification is most certainly rule number one for us. Generally, people will often remember your mistakes and forget your triumphs, especially when there are big social media ego’s at stake. My first mentor when I started writing in the late nineties said to me ‘You can be the best teacher in the school, you can spend thirty five years being the most approachable and kindest person to walk the hallowed corridors of your profession. But the minute you walk out of the toilets with bog roll hanging out of the back of your trousers you will be remembered for that forever’

Ain’t that a fact.

Keith Haynes is a qualified journalist and a member of the non political union the British Association of Journalists. He is the owner and editor of Swansea Independent.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

johnjubal1958 added 10:10 - Aug 23 Thanks for this update, it's really appreciated👏👍😎! When it comes to articles written by mainstream reporter's and most info outlets I don't even bother to read anymore because of the reasons you have mentioned on numous occasions. There purpose is not fair reporting but the bottom line is to make a buck at the expense of the truth! Gone are the days when the news reported the news. These days they create options which are simply gossip columns! Today,most people are not interested in the truth but the what's and what's not possibilities rather than the actual facts of the matter! The news just like politics has become a soap opera. Eat your heart out EastEnders!!! I enjoy reading the articles on this site because it edits out all the B.S. and leaves you with the actual realities of what is really going on!!! Thanks again for the sincere updates, again it's really appreciated! Come on you Swans👏👌😎🦢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧!

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