Sumbler steps down from Supporters’ Trust

SWANSEA City Supporters’ Trust chairman Phil Sumbler has stepped down from his role with immediate effect, saying he does not agree with the direction in which the organisation is moving.

Mr Sumbler had led the Trust board for more than 11 years, a period that has covered the club’s rise from the lower reaches of the Football League to the heights of the Premier League, League Cup success and a Europa League campaign.

He has been involved with the fans’ group for nearly 20 years and was part of the fight to return the club to local ownership following Tony Petty’s infamous period as owner.

In a lengthy statement posted on the Planet Swans website, he outlined his belief that the direction the Trust board wished to take moving forward no longer tallied with his own views and therefore he felt it to be in the best interests of the organisation for him to leave his position.

During the summer the Trust presented an offer to its members to sell up to half of their stake in Swansea City to majority shareholders Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien, with a ballot subsequently seeing that deal approved.

Talks over the detail of the transaction have continued since, but Mr Sumbler claimed he now no longer feels comfortable with that deal and felt it put the supporters’ body in a situation where the relationship with the club’s American owners had broken down.

Levien and Kaplan have acknowledged Mr Sumbler’s services to the Trust and the football club, whilst also outlining their hope that discussions over the share sale will soon be concluded.

The Supporters’ Trust added their sincere thanks to Mr Sumbler.

“Phil has been a tremendous driving force and leader of the Trust,” they said.

“A man who will be known to many as working tirelessly in the best interests of the fans during a period which has seen huge progression of our Football Club, with the Swans Trust as an intrinsic part of that development.”