Swansea City have undertaken a three month search to ensure that the January transfer window debacle we all witnessed recently doesn’t occur again. At least whilst the current majority ownership are in charge at the club. To date Josh Marsh carries the title of ‘Head Of Football Operations’ He has been at the club for a year but now seems to be the man in the firing line. The thirty one year old who came to Swansea as a result of Julian Winter’s connections to his old club Huddersfield Town is due to be relieved of his duties this week.
Marsh came to Swansea when Mark Allen left last April. This after a decidedly uncomfortable January transfer window ending with the left field signing of Nathanael Ogbeta from Shrewsbury Town for around three hundred thousand pounds. Ogbeta’s signing we are told was one which met with the annoyance of Swans head coach Russell Martin. His game time since that move has been limited to say the least, and he is now on loan at Peterborough United who go in to the last game of the season needing a win and hope results go in their favour to get in to this years play offs.
We understand that the remit for the ‘Head of Football Operations’ is to supply players to the club that fit the Swans player trading model, and who can be secured for a minimal fee as a result. That didn’t happen in January which has led to majority shareholders Jason Levien and Jake Silverstein ( with Steve Kaplan informed ) to undertake a lengthy search to find a match that satisfies Swansea City’s criteria for what they see as one of the most crucial roles at the club.
On that point head coach Russell Martin made it very clear in January that the club had a list of suitable targets and that was in the hands of Josh Marsh. He also stated on numerous occasions the finalisation of those signings, if possible were out of his hands. As we now know nothing transpired from that list of researched candidates and the transfer window ended in a calamitous effort to sign Karlan Grant on loan from West Bromwich Albion on deadline day eve. That fell through ( we are told ) due to the Baggies own player requirements not being fulfilled elsewhere.
With months of work undertaken it seems that none of the players signposted by Marsh and indeed Martin were suitable, or for whatever reason were not finalised in January. We now know that since early February both Levien and Silverstein on the back of that window have secured a replacement for Marsh, and it has been a three month effort. Jason Levien has a wealth of experience in football business management, that’s undeniable, and he has utilised that experience to source what he believes is a recruitment specialist who has seen a lot of success at Luton Town. That person is Paul Watson.
Watson has been at Luton for some five years and as a part of the recruitment team has overseen a ‘player recruitment model’ which has seen the Hatters grow financially far beyond any expectation. The Swans we understand have now agreed a package for Watson to join the club with Josh Marsh departing at the earliest opportunity. What we can disclose is that the three newly named investors in Swansea City have had nothing to do with this appointment, but the work done to secure Watson has impressed Nigel Morris, Andy Coleman and Brett Cravatt. All three are on the verge of investing beyond the reported ten million pounds speculated of late.
Pie in the sky ? Only time will tell.
We reported this yesterday on Swans Indy. That report is here –> Swans Indy investment exclusive
In yesterdays report we also referenced immediate changes at the Swans and although these new investors have not had any hand in Watson’s pending appointment it was really only a matter of time. How Watson’s move to west Wales impacts on current CEO Julian Winter will become clearer this coming week. We do get the impression though that more changes in club structure could well be implemented as time goes on.
The whole ethos of the majority ownership is to ruthlessly source prospects that can be brought in to Swansea City who can impact on the first team squad - and then bring income in to the club through sales. Flynn Downes is a prime example last season and Nathan Wood another this time around, Both recruited by Russell Martin and his assistant Matt Gill. On that point we can reveal today that both are secure in their appointments going in to next season if they are happy to lead the club in to the third year of their contracts.
Football is indeed a cut throat business and the Swans have had limited success with both Mark Allen and Josh Marsh. Of course that in no way implies or suggests their inability to do their demanding roles, it’s just that both Levien and Silverstein are determined to ensure their clear and direct vision to keep Swansea City on an even financial keel, which includes a secure future both on and off the pitch is fulfilled.
As we said this strategy doesn’t come without some loss of blood, and it doesn’t come without ego’s being damaged and indeed a little loss of face. There will also be both sides to any story, but this morning the only side this website cares about is the safe and well managed future of Swansea City. We are a unique club with a unique vision, and we can assure Swans fans today there’s some very unique work going on to secure player trading this summer. Some in time may call it groundbreaking, for now we will call it reassuring. I mean it’s not as if Kevin Cullis is pulling the strings or Doug Sharpe is riding in to town to save the day with three Scottish signings in the form of Paul Chalmers, Keith Walker and John Hughes.
Those days are long gone, and what we have today is a club that’s pushing forwards regardless of what many may think of the characters involved. Much like Russell Martin’s long term vision on the pitch it’s slowly gathering pace, and off it brave decisions are and have been made.
We can only hope the ship continues to be steered carefully and with solvency the prime concern.
Read our Josh Marsh appointment feature here –> Marsh joins the Swans