Sporting Director, Paul Watson who has never been that popular with the club’s fans has been removed from his post by Andrew Coleman, the Swansea City Chairman.

All we can genuinely say at this time is that Watson met with the club last week, and yesterday the decision was made to part company. People will speculate whether it was for footballing reasons or events more closer to Watson. However, we are aware of all the alleged reasoning behind his leaving, and it isn’t for this website to publish or mention those reasons.

Rumours started to circle early last week, and it was clear some accounts on Twitter couldn’t resist in stating what they believed to be the issue. That game isn’t for us. However, some very close sources to this website have generally all stated the same thing, and if they are the reason, then we have no doubt that Paul Watson leaving the club was a given.

Martin Hodge, now sixty five who has the appointment of ‘head of recruitment’ at the Swans will continue in his role, and alongside the pretty well structured recruiting staff will head that up for now. Andrew Coleman has mentioned that news of any replacement will be notified to the clubs fans once it is confirmed. How the severance is worked out, or indeed if a breach of an agreed contract is the reason then the Swans, who were paying Paul Watson big money may well have had to settle in some way.

On Watson’s arrival, Andrew Coleman stated. “In any business, it is rare to find someone who is universally praised for their character and capabilities. Paul is one of those few people. He is an incredibly talented individual with tremendous football knowledge, and Swansea City needs football people making key football decisions. Paul’s arrival immediately strengthens the club, and I look forward to working with him and providing him with the resources to make a positive impact at Swansea City.”

Seems that fell apart in the normal way most relationships with the majority owners do at Swansea City. Be that head coaches or executive positions. Hero to zero at the Swans.

The role of ‘some form of recruitment’ seems to be one which those in post in recent times don’t prosper for any lengthy duration. Be that Mark Allen, Josh Marsh and now Paul Watson. There is often talk of continuity at the Swans. This role which over the years seems to have become far more important to football clubs now has an official voice ‘The Association of Sporting Directors’ first forwarded by Mike Rigg when he was a technical director with the Football Association of Wales. In the UK the changed wording of the role came about in the mid nineties and was generally linked to European club sides in mainland Europe.

The role in the UK actually differs from club to club with no real generic definition of the position. The expectation is that someone in that executive position will forward negotiations and contracts, observe and control given budgets and be involved in ‘facilities and structure’ within the club.(hence the man in charge of the door keys at Luton nonsense which followed Watson to Swansea) It’s a well paid appointment, and now this news has has been confirmed by the club leads to more speculation on the competency of the people being given these ‘so say’ important roles. And indeed on the structure within the club that appoints and regularly disposes of these characters almost yearly.

In other news, Cyrus Christie and Adam Reach are on trial at the club this week, both are free agents.

Artwork by Swansea Independent

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