Trust warns of further departures from Swans

Swansea City Supporters Trust has suggested that further player sales could be on the cards this summer as the club looks to ‘balance the books’, following the release of City’s latest accounts.

The Swans revealed a pre-tax loss of £4.6m to July 2021 last week, in an announcement that laid bare the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The last few transfer windows have already seen the club reshape their playing squad to try to offset the effects of relegation from the Premier League, with the sale of Joe Rodon to Spurs among the contributory factors in these latest accounts – and there’s a feeling that Swansea could look to make similar moves in this summer’s window.

In a statement analysing the results, the Trust said: “The figures lay bare the challenges that the club and others in the Championship face in this regard, especially those relegated from the Premier League and at the conclusion of their parachute payment period.

“A part of the response has seen a continued reshaping of the playing squad, with several high-earners departing last summer – this undoubtedly helped to put the club on a more even keel, and we expect to see further changes this summer as Russell Martin continues to shape the squad to better deliver the style of football that we now play.

“The Trust recognises that supporters will look on with concern about the figures disclosed and what it means for the club in the immediate and long-term.

“It is likely that further player trading will occur this summer to help balance the books, and that further investment may be required at points to bridge gaps in the future.”

Meanwhile, Martin has warned his players they must show the right mentality to be part of his future plans.

Swansea went down 5-1 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday in a dispiriting display, especially in the second half.

It was the manner of the defeat which disappointed Martin the most, though, with lessons not learned from their capitulation against Reading last month and the frustrating circumstances in which they threw away a 3-0 lead against Bournemouth last week.

He’s now warned some of his players they must shape up to be part of his plans next term.

“We didn’t look after each other enough,” he said. “In the last half an hour, we did not have that willingness to run and the mentality you need to show when you are down in games.

“It will be a brilliant learning curve for a lot of the young guys in the team.

“But there is a way to lose, and that certainly wasn’t it.

“There are a few players who have to make sure they are part of this.

“In this team some people have really risen, and there are some people who are in danger of getting left behind.

“That is for us to assess, but the last two games – in the second halves against Bournemouth and Forest – have shown us what we are really going to need if we are going to be successful next season.”