Swansea City are fast approaching a dilemma, and it’s one which they cannot really be blamed for overall. The signatures of two key players have been mentioned on more than one occasion this season, one is Ryan Manning and the other is Joel Piroe. Now, there was a time when annual figures compared Europe's biggest clubs, in terms of their match day revenue, broadcast rights and commercial sources.

And the Swans were in the top twenty. Confirmed by financial services experts Deloitte.

That’s was seven years ago and much has changed. The club has its own playing staff salary cap, and it’s fixed at £245,000 a week. And that’s down on last season, and most certainly way, way down then the two season Steve Cooper worried the play offs. It’s a million pounds a month to keep Swansea City’s playing budget on track, so when you look at the additional outgoings all around the club it’s a massive commitment. Swansea City is a multi million pound business that encourages millions into the city, we should remember that.

When you look at those figures today, the capped squad budget is right on its limit. So, when the summer juggling of the finances begins, and that’s an every day occurrence that never stops, it’s a never ending problematic road. A relentless cycle of balancing the figures. You have to credit the current majority owners for this despite the shouts for Ryan Manning to be offered a new contract or Joel Piroe to be given an extension on his current deal. Both have been offered contracts, Manning and Piroe received generous increases to their current deals. And both turned them down.

In Manning’s case he already has a variety of suitors ready to double his current salary at Swansea City. In Piroe’s case the world could become his oyster if he see’s out his current Swans deal until May 2024. He would be a free agent, and with his goalscoring form would command a huge signing on fee which would go straight in to his pocket, plus far more money than Swansea City can pay him at this time. The type of money required to keep Piroe would mean utilising the funds from a key player sale regards him extending his current deal, plus at least thirty thousand pounds a month. And that’s just a very basic calculation.

This leaves Swansea with two decisions to make this summer.

1. Sell Piroe ( and estimates of five million pounds are ridiculous, that’s way below his asking price )

2. Retain Piroe in the hope that the Swans deliver in what they are beginning to promise, and reach the premier league next season. This of course will most certainly give Piroe and his close family a lot to think about.

That second option is interesting because if Russell Martin is at Swansea City next season, and there’s no reason why not it puts incredible pressure on him as well. He has enjoyed a longevity at Swansea any club in the championship would not give their manager. The ups are far less than the downs. However, in recent times the faith shown in him ( for whatever reason ) seems to be bearing some fruit. The pressure comes in looking like the club will be promoted next season. If they are and Piroe signs for the Swans it would see his value as a premier league player sky rocket. That would appeal to the current Swansea owners. If promotion fails Piroe will walk with millions of pounds missed out on. And that would be the end of Russell Martin at Swansea, at the start of the season, mid season or whenever. He would be gone.

The arithmetic on Russell Martin this season bears no resemblance to the figures of next season.

As it stands both Manning and Piroe are running their own show. Manning we know will leave, but you can’t fault his openness regards why, nor his commitment to the club on the pitch as a result. Piroe is a more problematic scenario and we have visited them today. If he enters next season on the final year of his contract then it will all ride on Swansea City’s success come the end of that campaign. For me that’s the only scenario that decides Joel’s future, unless millions come in to Swansea City FC then his contract status remains in limbo.

So what do Swansea City do ?

Do they take the large sum of money on offer for Piroe this summer, and there will be offers, or do they run the gauntlet of another championship season ( pending a mad play off scenario this time around ) and hope whatever Swansea City manager they have returns the club to the premier league ?

It really is as simple as that.

Photograph licensed from Reuters

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