Are we about to see a big money takeover at the Liberty, with multi-million marquee signings and an incredibly rich new owner? Nathan Lewis reports.
Today we've seen various news outlets, including WalesOnline and the Evening Post, reporting that Huw Jenkins and co. are in talks with overseas investors, with the biggest rumour being that multi-millionaire Americans are weighing up a deal to plough cash into the Liberty Stadium coffers.
If ever there were news to simultaneously excite and worry a Swansea fan, the prospect of big-money investment is surely it. The idea that the Swans could receive the boost that may increase their chances of competing with the big boys is one that would have any football fan drooling, not to mention the raft of new supporters that Premiership status has brought to South Wales.
Huw Jenkins, Garry Monk and even ex-manager Michael Laudrup have all spoken in the past of the massive gap between the top six or seven teams and the rest of the Premier League, and it would seem that the only way of bridging that gap is a significant investment of funds, which would allow clubs like the Swans to compete at the top of end of the table.
It's more than possible that the foreign investment that has been rumoured is not regarding a complete takeover, but the addition of a new director. This would soften the idea of "big-money investment" in many fans’ minds, since our longstanding board members (including our famous supporters representative) could stay in place and help retain the soul and heart of our club.
Given the release of the ‘Jack to a King’ film, which so brilliantly sums up the rags-to-riches story of how our magnificent club was saved by a group of fans, it seems silly to throw away the heritage and reputation that we have built up throughout the nation in search of big money and a hunt for glory. As a club, we have come from Third Division relegation fodder to playing the best teams in the country in the space of 12 years. That itself is a huge gap which we have bridged - who is to say that, by holding onto the principles that have served us so well, we can’t gradually raise our commercial and sporting profile to a place where we can compete with the big names in football?
It's more than possible that the foreign investment that has been rumoured is not regarding a complete takeover, but the addition of a new director. This would soften the idea of "big-money investment" in many fans’ minds, since our longstanding board members (including our famous supporters representative) could stay in place and help retain the soul and heart of our club.
Given the release of the ‘Jack to a King’ film, which so brilliantly sums up the rags-to-riches story of how our magnificent club was saved by a group of fans, it seems silly to throw away the heritage and reputation that we have built up throughout the nation in search of big money and a hunt for glory. As a club, we have come from Third Division relegation fodder to playing the best teams in the country in the space of 12 years. That itself is a huge gap which we have bridged - who is to say that, by holding onto the principles that have served us so well, we can’t gradually raise our commercial and sporting profile to a place where we can compete with the big names in football?
You only need look at Cardiff, or Leeds (in the Championship at the moment, if you’re wondering...) to see a club with promising potential lose their identity, soul and popularity, and go sliding down the divisions. I for one hope that the rumoured interest from overseas is more complex than it sounds. If this mysterious foreign investment has any element of truth in it, the important factor is that the club’s soul and heart remains intact.
Great stuff from Nathan there - give him a follow on Twitter @NathDavidLewis. I'll be taking a long look at this story later, as I feel very uneasy about the prospect of even a percentage of the clubs' current ownership changing hands. What do you think about the possibility of investment coming in? Should we stay as we are? Would you welcome a rich third-party investor? Get in touch using the comment section below!