Ricketts A Confirmed Departure

It has been confirmed that Welsh international Sam Ricketts has left the Liberty Stadium for Championship side Hull City.

The Championship side bid £300,000 - enough to trigger a release clause in Rickett's contract and after talks and a medical the Welsh international moved up a division. But Chairman Huw Jenkins has promised that the money made from the sale will be added to the budget already given to Kenny Jackett.

Speaking on the Official Site, Jenkins said "We are obviously extremely disappointed to lose Sam, we were always aware that one or two players would look to play Championship football if we failed to gain promotion last season. Unfortunately the clause in Sam's contract allows him to do that. When we extended Sam's contract last year, it was something he and his agent insisted on. Without it, he wouldn't have signed and we could have lost him for nothing. The minimum figure was £500,000 last season, dropping to £300,000 after July 1 this year.'

"It's disappointing to lose any player that you would rather keep, but we must move on. We signed Tom Williams last season as cover and a possible successor to Sam or anyone else who decided to leave. Perhaps he didn't have enough opportunities to flourish last season, so maybe this will be the chance he's been waiting for. I know the supporters will be as disappointed as me and Kenny to lose Sam, but I can guarantee them all that every single penny from the transfer will be used to strengthen the squad even further.

"While we are sorry to see Sam leave the club, we wish him well for the future and thank him for his services over the last two years,''

And as if by magic (anyone remember Mr Benn) the confirmation from the club was followed by the news that the Swans had broken their transfer record with the capture of Dean Leacock from Fulham. Amazing that!