The shouting, guessing rumours, talking, writing and conjecture is over. Until January. The Swans now need to keep the bedrock of the defence retained. That is Ben Cabango and Harry Darling. And we will throw in Liam Cullen as well. Plus what about these salaries ?
We’ve said it before, everyone in the main has said it, but it seems the Swans are either keeping their cards very close to their chest, or are not prepared to offer even an average Championship wage to these three players. In fact there are many League One players on more money than the Swans two central defenders and striker.
The basics are that both are in the average salary bracket of a League One player.
And well below that figure are the signings the Swans have made this summer. All of them. with Oli Cooper on half that for good measure. Fair play to the club for keeping the salary packages far lower than they have been in some thirteen years, but the end result has been a gamble. Profit and Sustainability has been the key phrase since those unwelcome losses were reported earlier on this year. But that was up to the end of July 2023. Now we await those figures from August 2023 to the end of July this year. And they come out next year. As we have always stated, the Swans are dominated by numbers and nothing else. Numbers that show the club is being managed okay and servicing debts appropriately.
Yes, signings have come in, but to date, and how we hope that changes there’s serious tactical issues being seen. Even against lower league opposition. Liam Cullen who is on a bare bones contract for a Championship player is another, without any sign of a contract offer that even puts him in the average League One wage weekly salary.
Earlier today we reported on Liam’s desire to stay at Swansea City —> ⚽️ Liam latest
And this week on Darling & Cabango —> ⚽️ Cabango & Darling
The overall players yearly salary is down by a few million pounds, some say more than that. And the replacements we have seen this year as an example Ronald, who is on around £5,800 a week are the product of the Swans shopping in a certain bracket. We’ve said it many times before. That’s why Tyrese Campbell isn’t at Swansea, and why Jamal Lowe left at the end of the season. Every time we heard of a decent player being available we just sat back and smiled, we know exactly what the Swans strategy is, and it’s about cutting costs, and the main outlay for the club is players and salaries.
So that’s where they have started.
However, that should not detract from offering three key players, all who are worth money to the club, contracts that reflect their status. Otherwise they are all gone and able to do their bidding from January. Some will say good, some will say bad, others will just shrug their shoulders and say ‘it’s gone downhill since the Americans had a say in the club’
⚽️ We will leave you with this.
And for those who are travelling to West Bromwich Albion tomorrow (KO 3pm) we hope you travel safely and enjoy the day. More on the game in the morning.
Footnote : This is in no way a reflection of how the club is being run, or has any impact on the current situation which at this time we believe is stable and reassuring. One person out of twenty thousand who viewed this took offence. He actually offered a meeting with the directors to discuss players contracts and add ons, specific details in breach of data protection. We have spoken to two contacts at the club and offered his name to them. They have no idea who he is, nor of any reason why they should discuss private details with him. Our information is always confidential and from approved sources and agents who have given permission (on this occasion) to disclose what we have.
Some people have no idea of the basics of journalism from qualified journalists who have legal representation and approval from a recognised union in the UK.