| Petty breaks his silence 09:47 - Sep 7 with 8315 views | epaul |
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tony-petty-macclesfiel
Tony Petty: Why Macclesfield defeat showed me I had to hand Swansea City back to the supporters
Sep 07, 2014 07:00 By Chris Wathan 0 Comments
Petty has broken his silence on his controversial time in charge of the Swans, a dark period in the club’s history that had many fearing for its future
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Tony Petty
The man who united a city as they reclaimed their club has spoken for the first time about the moment it was time to hand Swansea City back to its supporters.
And he claims it was a dreary December day in Macclesfield that he realised he could not stop the fans’ fight to end his controversial reign — and set the club on the path to the Premier League.
Tony Petty has broken his silence on his controversial time in charge of the Swans, a dark period in the club’s history that had many fearing for its future and mobilised loyal fans into action.
Having bought the-then lowly Swans for £1, the outspoken Australian-based businessman had outraged large sections of support by extreme cost-cutting measures — including attempts to sack six players — amidst various allegations of his running of the club.
Now, in a new feature-length film documenting the club’s incredible rags to riches story, Petty has revealed how the intimidation from some fans finally got to him and persuaded him to sell-up to a supporter-based consortium — the same group of businessmen fans that run the club today to great acclaim.
And the vilified former owner explains how FA Cup defeat to Macclesfield was the turning point as he realised there would be no bumper third-round gate to try and turn around the club’s finances on his own.
In the exclusive interview in the Jack to a King film, which is released this Friday, Petty claims he was let down by fellow businessmen when he bought the club leaving him with no cash to invest.
Public enemy No.1 in Swansea at the time, Petty reveals: “I was down in Brisbane and it was common knowledge at that time that Swansea had changed ownership. I rang up (then Swansea chief executive) Mike Lewis and he was very open. It wasn’t good. I had a chat with one of the wealthiest clubs in Queensland with a view to rescuing Swansea."
Petty continued: “I flew over to Swansea with the chairman of the Brisbane Lions and they were going to put the money in.
“Mike knew he couldn’t carry on. If we hadn’t appeared then he probably had one month or two at best before he would have gone under. That’s how bad it was.
“Unfortunately for me those guys flew back to Australia and somewhere down the line within the next week or two they decided to change their mind and it left me pretty much holding a baby.
“By that time Mike had relinquished power and I was there without the money.”
That saw Petty try to axe key players and fail to convince supporters he was not overseeing the death of the proud Vetch Field club.
Protests and pleas for him to sell-up had so far fallen on deaf ears before a FA Cup Second Round game at Moss Rose.
Having beaten QPR in an emotionally-charged game the previous round, victory could have brought cash into the coffers that could well have bought Petty time and scuppered fans hopes of the consortium — including former player Mel Nurse — winning the day.
But Petty reveals: “One match turned everything and that was the next round of the FA Cup (Macclesfield). That was it. That was the end.
“I thought at worst we would get a draw and we lost 4-1. The FA Cup had gone and we needed money. End of story.”
Within a month, fans had rallied to pay-off Petty and strike a £1 deal to buy the club in a Cardiff hotel with the Londoner effectively run out of town.
Petty claimed: “There was house bricks being thrown at many a car — mainly looking for my car.
“The intimidation was getting to me.
“I remember driving back and saying, ‘That’s it.’
“I thought there is only one buyer in town whether they are offering a pound or whatever.
“If they wanted to have a go, so be it. I can’t do no more.”
The fans did have a go as the takeover went through in January, with the Supporters Trust that gained huge numbers in protest of Petty gaining a place on the board that they still hold today.
With Huw Jenkins eventually installed as chairman, the Swans stopped the bleeding and — after dramatically avoiding relegation from the Football League the following season — began their rise up the divisions that has seen them reach the top-flight, win a first major English trophy, compete in Europe and head into a table-topping Premier League clash with Chelsea next weekend.
The film, which has its London premiere in Leicester Square 24 hours before the Stamford Bridge fixture, also reveals how Jenkins turned down the chance of playing for the Swans as a up-and-coming goalkeeper — because he wanted to watch the game with his mates on the Vetch’s North Bank.
Jenkins said: “I did train with the Swans and play a couple of times. Then I had the chance to sign for them.
“But I decided I’m not going to sign and I’m going to go around to the North Bank and meet my mates and have a day out watching the Swans.”
One of those mates included Martin Morgan, the businessman who would later be involved in the buy-out to oust Petty.
And the rest, as this fascinating film reveals, is history. |  |
| The hair and the beard have gone I am now conforming to society, tis a sad day
The b*stards are coming back though |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 09:51 - Sep 7 with 4578 views | Rancid |
Is he claiming to have had an impact in our rise? I suppose he did inadvertantly but piss off and get back under that rock you came from. |  | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 09:57 - Sep 7 with 4538 views | perchrockjack |
I just feel ashamed I wasn't there in person to intimidate him.
He s lucky to be still alive and not breathing through a tube |  |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:01 - Sep 7 with 4513 views | WarwickHunt |
Anyone remember his threat to bring the ICF down to "sort us out"  |  | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:02 - Sep 7 with 4508 views | reddythered |
Sorry but is Huw claiming he had a chance to actually play football but instead preferred to just watch games? Any truth to that? | |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:05 - Sep 7 with 4483 views | blaine_scfc |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:02 - Sep 7 by reddythered |
Sorry but is Huw claiming he had a chance to actually play football but instead preferred to just watch games? Any truth to that? |
He was a decent keeper by all accounts. |  | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:08 - Sep 7 with 4454 views | Neath_Jack |
The c*nt is definitely going to try and use this exposure to his own good, or maybe i'm just a cynical sort of bloke. Either way it doesn't sit right with me. |  |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:10 - Sep 7 with 4441 views | reddythered |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:05 - Sep 7 by blaine_scfc |
He was a decent keeper by all accounts. |
Just seems odd. As a fan, playing for the club you support would be ideal. | |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:11 - Sep 7 with 4434 views | epaul |
He owns several estate agents shop down in kent Ashford ish area, my daughter and partner got their place from him, his daughter and her mother live next door to them, shocked I was when she told me  | |
| The hair and the beard have gone I am now conforming to society, tis a sad day
The b*stards are coming back though |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:11 - Sep 7 with 4433 views | jacw |
Make no mistake , petty was in it for one reason only.....money , and he did well for his pound. | | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:11 - Sep 7 with 4433 views | latchford |
I would like to meet the guy. As I'm sure would many other jacks | | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:15 - Sep 7 with 4414 views | Wiggle |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:10 - Sep 7 by reddythered |
Just seems odd. As a fan, playing for the club you support would be ideal. |
Just smile and enjoy this wonderful journey and look out for the Oscars when they arrive..stid | | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:19 - Sep 7 with 4383 views | exiledclaseboy |
I'm fairly sure that Petty sold the club for more than a quid. He bought it for a quid but sold it for more than that. £20k is the figure that I seem to remember. |  |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:23 - Sep 7 with 4365 views | Phil_S |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:08 - Sep 7 by Neath_Jack |
The c*nt is definitely going to try and use this exposure to his own good, or maybe i'm just a cynical sort of bloke. Either way it doesn't sit right with me. |
The same thought went into my mind - was a little surprised to see that they had even attempted to interview him
Best thing that ever happened to our club but he shouldn't get any personal credit or gain from it |  | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:23 - Sep 7 with 4365 views | blaine_scfc |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:19 - Sep 7 by exiledclaseboy |
I'm fairly sure that Petty sold the club for more than a quid. He bought it for a quid but sold it for more than that. £20k is the figure that I seem to remember. |
I thought it was a quid.
I'm sure I read a story about the consortium meeting him in a hotel in Cardiff, signing the papers, passing over the pound coin, he then chucked it against a wall and stormed out of hotel. | | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:24 - Sep 7 with 4353 views | Phil_S |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:19 - Sep 7 by exiledclaseboy |
I'm fairly sure that Petty sold the club for more than a quid. He bought it for a quid but sold it for more than that. £20k is the figure that I seem to remember. |
£20k it was | | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:24 - Sep 7 with 4353 views | Dr_Winston |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:19 - Sep 7 by exiledclaseboy |
I'm fairly sure that Petty sold the club for more than a quid. He bought it for a quid but sold it for more than that. £20k is the figure that I seem to remember. |
They took £20,000 in loose change to buy the club. Think it's mentioned in that trailer. |  |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:26 - Sep 7 with 4345 views | owainglyndwr |
Do you remember the Rushden & Diamonds game when thousands lined the pitch ready to invade to attack Petty and force him out.
Rushden fans must of sh@t themselves wondering what was happening with the fans up to the touch line |  | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:28 - Sep 7 with 4325 views | Dr_Winston |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:26 - Sep 7 by owainglyndwr |
Do you remember the Rushden & Diamonds game when thousands lined the pitch ready to invade to attack Petty and force him out.
Rushden fans must of sh@t themselves wondering what was happening with the fans up to the touch line |
One of the few games I can remember (other than a meaningless end of season 0-0 against Exeter) when almost nobody in attendance gave a shit about what was going on on the pitch. | |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:55 - Sep 7 with 4196 views | JackoBoostardo |
yup.... He's still a c*nt. |  |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:57 - Sep 7 with 4183 views | max936 |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:08 - Sep 7 by Neath_Jack |
The c*nt is definitely going to try and use this exposure to his own good, or maybe i'm just a cynical sort of bloke. Either way it doesn't sit right with me. |
Agreed, he'll want to come down to a home game and walkout onto the centre circle next, he'll never get out alive. |  |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 10:58 - Sep 7 with 4181 views | ScoobyWho |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:01 - Sep 7 by WarwickHunt |
Anyone remember his threat to bring the ICF down to "sort us out" |
It didn't work when we played west ham, hardly going to work for petty, want a junk head he is. |  |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 11:01 - Sep 7 with 4162 views | ScoobyWho |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:02 - Sep 7 by reddythered |
Sorry but is Huw claiming he had a chance to actually play football but instead preferred to just watch games? Any truth to that? |
I can assure you he was of a decent standard, may be he knew his limitations and didn't wish to 'pull the wool ' over the eyes of fans like other clubs ;-) | |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 11:02 - Sep 7 with 4155 views | crackerjack |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:28 - Sep 7 by Dr_Winston |
One of the few games I can remember (other than a meaningless end of season 0-0 against Exeter) when almost nobody in attendance gave a shit about what was going on on the pitch. |
I have to say that was the most surreal game I've ever been to. The bristling anger on the NB was palpable. |  |
| "Lead me from tortured dreams
Childhood themes of nights alone...." |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 11:11 - Sep 7 with 4114 views | Dr_Winston |
| Petty breaks his silence on 11:02 - Sep 7 by crackerjack |
I have to say that was the most surreal game I've ever been to. The bristling anger on the NB was palpable. |
My old man was working as a steward at the time. I'd planned to meet him in the Centre Stand foyer after the game and managed to sneak my way around before the police cordon blocked it all off.
Petty spent about an hour sfter the game hiding in one of the conference rooms and I've never seen a human being look so terrified. Basically telling plod to lie to the fans gathered outside and tell them that he'd already left.  | |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
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| Petty breaks his silence on 11:15 - Sep 7 with 4093 views | Darran |
Is John Shuttleworth in the film too?
Wasn't he in the porn industry? |  |
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