Fiscal prudence and continued success go hand in hand in South Wales, but could the non-football world learn a thing or two?
Over the last decade, we've seen the Swans grow from a club plying their trade in the lower echelons of the league in a decrepit (but oh so lovely) stadium, to Premier League middleweights renowned for their fine football on the field, coupled with strict financial control off it.
I often try to draw analogies between football and the world at large, as I believe the huge amount of attention football gets in the public eye means it's an effective medium through which to get across any kind of important message - the anti-racism campaign "Kick It Out" is an example of this, although for me by simply trying to "rid the game" of any malevolent element you're missing the big picture - surely we should be trying to rid society of racism, as opposed to football alone?
The news is constantly full of depressing stories about triple-dip recessions, rescue packages and all sorts of other financial doom and gloom, and when you consider how heavily most big clubs are propped up by rich backers is football really in a better state? There are very few clubs operating in the manner the Swans are, and those who do stand to benefit if the whole financial pyramid comes crashing down. The continued increase in, well, everything associated with football simply cannot continue, and at some point the bubble must surely burst.
This is why I love the Swans so much. Ok, I've always loved the Swans, but to see them operating so responsibly in a sea of shady back-handers really is heart-warming. In an age where, in football and society alike, people spend beyond their means looking for the big new shiny object of affection, they have shown that by knuckling down, working hard, and believing in what you're doing it's possible to achieve just about anything.
UEFA are currently assessing clubs according to their "Financial Fair Play" regulations which are due to come into effect, however how they're going to go about enforcing that is anyone's guess. Do you really see them turning around to Manchester City, Real Madrid & Paris Saint-Germain and saying "Sorry guys, I know you're a large part of why people pay for Skysports and all that, but you're not competing because you don't break even as a club"? Unlikely, and as long as there's massive media interest in huge transfer fees and star signings it's hard to see anything changing.
That's why Swansea City continuing to compete at the highest level is so impressive. They've done it through hard graft and sheer bloody-mindedness, and the honesty of the approach is a refreshing ray of light through an increasingly dirty window.
Swansea City - A design for life? You betcha.