We understand that the Swans retained list will be announced today or at the latest on Saturday. And of course that includes players that will be released by the club from the academy and first team squad. So, the Swans plans and immediate future regards players coming in will become much clearer. Or at least the areas they need to target.
The Swans have to notify the English Football League of their decisions by Saturday, and despite that we are hearing the league is already aware of the Swans situation. There is no obligation on the club to announce their decision making in public, although it’s a traditional time of year to do so, and the club have always made the options they have taken open. Five of last seasons Championship clubs have already announced their retained quota including, Bristol City, Stoke City, Coventry City, Rotherham United and Plymouth Argyle. However, it seems some clubs are willing to announce their retained lists with an ‘in talks’ clause added. As long as the club name the player that’s is acceptable.
⚽️ Owain is not certain …
Ex Swansea City & Norwich City player Owain Tudur Jones, who gained seven caps for Wales has commented on the current situation at the Swans."There's a big rebuild needed and the problem for Luke Williams (head coach) is how much influence does he have on new signings ? I take it he can identify positions he wants to target, but I think it's then down to (sporting director) Paul Watson to make the final decisions on who comes in. Is Paul Watson the right man to lead the club ? I'm not sure."
That’s a surprise, Owains’s comments on Paul Watson, and really this summer will reflect his longevity at the club. Another messed up recruitment plan this time around and the pressure will be immense. Owain, who joined Swansea from Bangor for £5,000 in 2005 and eventually left for £240,000 in 2009 to Norwich City is always keen to comment on his feelings regards his ex club. Podcast, Y Coridor Ansicrwydd is one of his regular stop offs and he is always keen to talk all things Swansea City.
News was announced yesterday that Kyle Naughton has another one year contract at a reduced remuneration, but with a guarantee of a celebration of his ten years service come the summer of 2025. The real problem the Swans have faced is the dilemma over contracts for Liam Walsh and Placheta, we still maintain Joe Allen has been offered acceptable terms. Walsh and Placheta have a history of injuries and any contract would be a gamble. In Placheta’s case his salary at Norwich is way out of reach of the clubs ceiling for a new contract. He has been spoken to and is fully aware of his position at the Swans if he wanted to sign on, and that was a few weeks ago.
The Swans will have to lose players, they simply sustain current losses, to continue working with players who are injury prone or in the academy’s case not good enough is no vision for the future. We can expect more participation from the academy graduates in the first team squad this season, there are numerous young players with very bright futures ready to make the step up. That shouldn’t take away from the quality the club will need to bring in, every youngster that is included is a risk. In Sam Parker’s case he made a few appearances last season but didn’t have the muscle mass or strength to compete at Championship level. Then of course he wanted quite a considerable increase in his salary which was rejected by the club. He won’t be released though.
As we said we expect this retained ‘list’ to surface at some point over the next forty eight hours and will report on that. When we do see it there will be a few surprises and debate will come from all sides of the ‘argument’ will no doubt ensue. For the best commentary, information and feedback on the summer stories you know where we are.
Luke Williams (above) isn’t going anywhere quite literally this summer, "I don’t feel I quite deserve a holiday, so I am going to continue to work. The work changes because I don’t have the guys out there on the grass, or in the type of meetings we would have every day, trying to get things in place to improve at the training ground and the processes we go through with training, conditioning and recovery. There is going to be some work going on to make sure we are in a good place, and plenty of work going on looking at potential targets coming to the club, and that’s probably the most time-consuming part at this point. But I think being present, first and foremost, and not missing an opportunity, not missing a moment…I am going to try and cover as many bases as possible over the summer so we can come back in the best place we can be.”
This is a determined effort by the head coach who clearly wants his finger right on the pulse this summer, keeping an eye on things could be another explanation. We have a ‘Weekend review’ coming up this weekend with Leeds United in the play off final. They are one win from the Swans earning a few million pounds if they are successful in their return to the Premier League. A clause in the contract for the sale of Joel Piroe to Leeds last summer.
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