Loan row left bitter taste after glory at Wembley
SWANSEA City host Ipswich Town this afternoon (3pm) in the first fixture between the two sides since the Swans’ promotion season.
The last time the Tractor Boys rolled into town they were sent packing in quick fashion, with Brendan Rodgers’ men handing out a 4-1 thrashing to the visitors.
On that Easter Monday, April 2011, Rodgers spoke to the media about Tamas Priskin, the striker on loan at Swansea from Ipswich, who had suffered a knee injury in training the day before the match.
“It probably means he will be going back to Ipswich,” revealed Rodgers .
“It is unfortunate because he has been excellent since he has come here.
“It is a difficult situation for Tamas.” Not half as difficult as relations would become between Swansea and Ipswich over the coming weeks and months...
Due to his injury, Priskin returned to Portman Road earlier than his loan contract stipulated.
Rodgers’ charges would go on to claim promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Swansea were jubilant; Ipswich were not.
Ipswich’s chief executive at the time, Simon Clegg, claimed Swansea had reneged on a deal relating to the payment of Priskin’s wages while he was on loan at the Liberty and subsequent add-ons as a result of promotion.
It was reported to be in excess of £300,000.
Clegg said at the time : “I am hugely disappointed a legally binding agreement reached in good faith by both clubs as part of Swansea’s final push for promotion is now being disputed.
“I am absolutely fuming - this is no way to do business.”
He added: “I am genuinely delighted for Swansea and their fans but the attempted renegotiation and deliberate misinterpretation of agreed terms by their chairman [Huw Jenkins] is not fitting for a club which has just secured the ultimate prize in Championship football and its £90 million windfall. Tamas arrived in Swansea fit and became injured while under their care – that’s football but contracts have to be honoured and I have absolutely no interest in renegotiating this agreement.
“As a result of Swansea refusing to pay our invoices I have reported them to the Premier League, sought an immediate transfer embargo and am now seeking full payment of all outstanding sums with the agreed contractual interest rate of 5% above base.”
The Premier League confirmed Ipswich had registered their complaint and said: “We will refer this to our board at the first opportunity.”
Swansea responded by saying they were “completely unaware of any dispute with Ipswich”.
Jenkins said: “In response to Ipswich Town’s statement, as a club we are completely unaware of any dispute with Ipswich. Myself and Simon Clegg talked a few weeks ago regarding the situation of Tamas Priskin returning early from his loan spell but there has been no correspondence since.
“While we are surprised a n d disappointed with
Simon’s statement, we will address the situation and speak to him and Ipswich early next week.”
In the end, it was resolved with a minimal amount of fuss by the Swansea chairman.
In June of 2011 he said: “There’s no issue at all with Ipswich.
“Everything is fine between us and we move on.
“All our differences have been resolved today and we’ve concluded on all matters to do with Tamas Priskin being on loan with us.
“We’ve got a good relationship with Ipswich and I get along well with Simon Clegg, the chief executive.”
All water under the bridge now, you would think.
Priskin, now 32, is back in his homeland Hungary playing for Szombathelyi >