A week ago it was only Matt Grimes, Chairman Andrew Coleman and a few significant others who knew he had met with the club and told them he wanted out. For anyone to think that was on the spur of the moment really does need to gather their thoughts.

It was stated that this had nothing to do with Luke Williams, the current Swans head coach. It was also stated it had nothing to do with the club, it was just a case that right at the end of the transfer window Grimes had decided to up sticks and leave. That was even a surprise to his wife. Of course those were saying this had little to do with how Grimes was being perceived at the club, the most important aspect being the players. We are going to say this right now. It was. Very few of the players were enjoying training every day and being told that this would return wins when it clearly wasn’t. There was little faith in Williams. How do we know ? Well, we all do, the results have been shocking. No manager can continuously preach to his players that by playing in a certain way will lead to success, and then on a match day it doesn't happen for weeks on end.

Read into that what you want.

Also Matt Grimes in amongst the derby game embarrassment at Cardiff is visibly seen saying to himself ‘We are f***ing shit’ Then we have him thrust into the headlines that he is taking pre match and halftime talks. Luke Williams leaving him to be the man who is there to inspire his side. We can tell you right now without any doubt that certain players at the club saw that initially as throwing Grimes under the bus, but that would change. It may on the face of it look like an expansive thinking head coach being able to openly admit he needs an alternative view, and many had that opinion. But the information coming out of the club was it ‘seemed’ a desperate measure to bring the players together and submit to a training methodology that wasn’t working.

And it still isn’t working.

What happened for those who care to know is that last Thursday Matt Grimes made a verbal request to leave Swansea City. We simply cannot believe that this move wasn’t without the knowledge that some serious cash was on the table for him to improve his financial status. You can add to that he was seeing what a mess Coleman was making and about to make of this transfer window. That club of interest in a day turned out to be Coventry City. Very coincidental to some ? Andrew Coleman immediately sat down with Grimes and they discussed an extension and better terms for a player who would already be costing the club a few million over the next couple of years until summer, 2027. Grimes refused those terms and made it clear he was going. Just when the club needed leadership it had folded. With that in place Coleman eventually squeezed nigh on four million pounds for Grimes from Coventry, that does though include add ons.

Then we had the scenario which we have had confirmed by two club contacts that when Matt Grimes turned up to say his farewells around five people were in attendance. It all got very griefy and wasn’t the response Grimes was expecting. The canteen was open as well … Players who didn’t turn up were clearly making their sentiments known, and those that did very much did the same. Literally six weeks after encouraging Ben Cabango to stay with a presentation, and all the reasons why he should stay Grimes did an about turn. Nothing at all to do with the current loss of form and training methodology mind. Put it this way had Grimes been the captain of a team in a play off place would he have insisted, and he did insist - he wanted to leave ? It’s quite clear he was unhappy, and there can only be a few reasons why.

Grimes had spoken with Coleman over the previous six weeks, the content of those discussions isn’t totally known but both he and midfielder, Joe Allen were not at all happy with the progression of the team and what they were seeing day in and day out at Fairwood. Luke Williams we know is a very decent man and a very considerate head coach, but his training wasn’t matching up to the end result. It was clearly not personal as social media jumped to conclusions based on what they didn’t know. After all that arena is judge and jury to the majority who live their lives, abuse and then become victims when they meet resistance on any platform. It wasn’t personal to Williams, but it was as much to do with his methods as it was Andrew Coleman’s.

On the subject of social media. The abuse thrown at Andrew Coleman and others was disgusting, and we really hope they are dealt with and put before the courts. Much the same as Terry Coles abusers. You cannot threaten injury in any environment and expect everything to be just the same as it was the day before. These people are criminalising themselves from behind a computer. In this report we are conveying facts, and facts that the club knows only too well, as does Matt Grimes. The players were not happy, Grimes was not happy and that resulted in him going to the Chairman. Not the day he verbally requested to leave but well before that. No captain should have to deal with constant complaining but when he does he should most certainly make representations and that’s exactly what Grimes did.

His transfer decision was obviously as a result of the situation getting worse, and when he decided to leave the club his wife, Angela seemed shocked in a form of social media post. That’s below.

If you read that and let it sink in, and there’s much to take in, it’s a sad state of affairs. It just looks like a footballer who has given up with everything that is going on at his club. Luke Williams as much as Andrew Coleman are to blame. Yes it’s a first world problem for the Grimes family, talking of which - as if a million pounds plus a year wasn’t enough Matt has put ten thousand pounds a week on his contract over a longer period of time. The good news for his family is that they have their ‘not so forever home’ in Swansea and we hear there is still no agreement for them all to live in the Warwickshire area. I’m pretty certain they will manage though whatever the decision.

Certain people have taken the Matt Grimes issue very seriously, mostly those who have only known Matt Grimes being at Swansea. Yes things move on but don’t tell us here at the Indy it’s nothing to do with A, B or C. It’s got everything to do with it or Matt Grimes would be leading the team out at Bristol City on Sunday. He isn’t for all the reasons in this report. Obviously this website wishes Matt and his family the very best for the future, for us it takes off the handbrake in midfield that has so often frustrated us. That pause in play that stalls moves before passing the ball, generally forwards but also backwards and sideways.

If you have any doubt look back on this last transfer window, does it inspire confidence in the Chairman ? Maybe the results on the field of play, Luke Williams, looking good to you ? Of course Matt Grimes wanted out over a long period of time. This had built up over a period, to the extent he couldn’t deal with his situation. After all his head coach seemed to want to go as well I early January. And whatever people say the club Chairman has worked hard but it’s blatantly obvious he is well out of his depth. Many can see it and the club is sinking. And that’s why Grimes walked. The Chairman may well come across to some as bizarre and dominating, but he is working himself into the ground determined to do everything, and that simply has to stop.

Too much damage has been done already, Swansea City simply can’t take this anymore and remain a functioning Championship football club. It’s that serious.

Artwork by Swansea Independent

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