To have a stable club on the pitch you need a very stable one off it. And at last it seems this is the case after several years of indecision at Swansea City. You cannot fault though the appointments on the coaching front, but the caution away from there has been a frustration.

Now the Swans have Paul Watson in as Sporting Director, and albeit a novice working within the English Football League (EFL) in Andrew Coleman we do have a solid foundation that seems keen to get to work. Coleman comes from a successful financial background and now with data specialist Brett Cravatt (below) joining the Swans board, there will possibly be more emphasis on the alignment required to push forward with the clubs goals.

Andrew Coleman, Swansea City Chairman
“The best way for this organisation to be run is to have someone with a significant stake in the club here — with a deep background in business and experience in football — helping to lead Swansea City so decisions can be made quickly”

That’s been evident with three new signings coming in to the club in what could be described as double quick time by Swansea City standards. Coleman has a multi million stake working the club with the only question mark being ‘where’ that money is actually sitting at the moment. Quick decision making at any club is key when pursuing quality free agents or getting involved in the bidding for experience and purchasing players hat are better than is already available.

“The hope is that this allows us to move much more efficiently, quickly and smartly moving forward. Every business I have been associated with has had one philosophy behind it. It is one team and one goal”

Andrew Coleman seems very keen to introduce his family and his own business priorities to Swansea City. He has also brought with him some sound personal staff and can point to nearly thirty years in successful business management at Berkadia amongst many other stellar companies.

“My job as chairman is to empower the people in those positions to have the ability to be as successful as they can be. People such as Michael, Paul, Josh (Marsh) and our entire recruitment team who have been working tirelessly over these last few months to be ready for this window”

Empowerment means autonomy with regards to Paul Watson, that gives him confidence in his thinking to move the club forwards without waiting for the go ahead from the USA as we have seen so many times before. Without doubt players have been missed out on in recent years. This new formula and liquidity at the Swans, albeit with a chain of decision making will most certainly pay dividends. It also gives recruitment specialist Josh Marsh far more confidence that his hard work will be listened to, and that wasn’t evident in January.

Josh Key a recent arrival from Exeter City is a good point in case. “I’m settling in really well. The lads are a really good group and they’ve been really good with me. They’ve made it really easy to settle in and they’re a good group of players. I’ve found it a lot easier than I expected, so credit to them for helping me. There’s an exciting season ahead, so as long as I can stay consistent in my mindset then hopefully I can be fit for the start of the season.” That reflects a player with little on his mind other than playing for the Swans, and that’s what we all want. As we said off the field stability reflects on the field achievement.

Without doubt there will be more players coming in, there has to be with the squad still looking slightly depleted in certain areas. And indeed, with Morgan Whittaker making it known he would like a fresh challenge elsewhere. His omission yesterday in the 5-0 defeat of Swindon Town noticeable. Where that takes him does mean interested clubs paying the going rate for his services for sure, and the same goes for Joel Piroe and Matt Grimes. The latter has been mentioned in certain reports, but if you were to bet on the next player leaving the Swans it would be Whittaker.

Grimes and Piroe are very sellable assets and as it stands a combined fee of twenty million wouldn’t be far wide of the mark. If that happens then Coleman’s words will have to be deployed and actioned quickly by Swansea. Replacements would be required immediately. George Cox another free agent has been well touted by his representatives this past week, it seems now though the Swans may well have decided to let him ply his trade elsewhere, he is now on some form of trial at Hull City. The left side of the pitch still needs some bolstering for sure.

The Swans now have three open door friendlies ahead of them before the big kick off, and maybe as well an opportunity for some of the development players to make a name for themselves. An away fixture against Oxford United is first up this coming Friday evening before a competitive match against JD Cymru South side Carmarthen on Saturday away in the NATHANIEL MG CUP ( Kick Off 2.30pm ) This game will feature fringe players and Under 21’s in the main. The Swans are offering a three pass stream ticket for the friendly matches against Oxford Unites, Reading and Bristol Rovers before the season starts. See the website for details.

Photographs Open Source

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