Jackett Wants Success

Jackett Looking For Success

ARTICLE REPRODUCED FROM THE LEAGUE MANAGER’S ASSOCIATION WEB SITE

Swansea City boss Kenny Jackett is hoping that 2004/05 proves to be a successful season for the club in preparation for their move into a new stadium.

The 42-year-old is looking forward to his first full season in charge of the Welsh club, having arrived at the Vetch Field in April following Brian Flynn’s fairly surprising dismissal.

Jackett left his position as assistant manager at QPR to take up his second managerial post, having previously served as the first-team boss at Watford for three years, from 1993 to 1996, under general manager Graham Taylor.

Swansea finished last season in tenth place, and Jackett is hoping that they will be able to progress in the next campaign.

He told leaguemanagers.com: "I think it’s a terrific opportunity for the club. At some stage next year, they’re moving to a new 20,000 all-seater stadium, and with the increased revenue and the catchment area down there, they have a fantastic hardcore of support.

"So next year becomes a vital year going into the new stadium, and if the club can be successful, I think it can be the springboard to a successful period for Swansea City."

Jackett believes he has learnt a lot in the eight years since his first spell in management ended, and he admits that his position at Swansea is somewhat different to the situation he was in at Vicarage Road.

"At Watford I was the team manager under the general manager Graham Taylor, and it wasn’t like being the manager in your own right in many ways, because I didn’t have the full range," he revealed.

"It was based on a continental system that isn’t really the norm in this country, and at that particular time, and since then, at both Watford and QPR I was assistant manager and I feel I’ve built up a very, very good knowledge for what is needed for the role of manager."

Ian Holloway’s number two for three quarters of the season, Jackett played a big part in helping QPR achieve promotion to the First Division, and he believes The Superhoops can survive in Division One.

"Queens Park Rangers are a big club. In Second Division terms, as they were last season, there was Sheffield Wednesday and then, in my opinion, Queens Park Rangers were the second biggest club. So I don’t think they’ve got anything to fear going into the First Division," he said.

"Again they have a fantastic fan-base, and in terms of crowd potential and size of club I would think they’ve got every chance of being in the top half of the First Division.

"Also, what counts for you is momentum: promoted sides, generally, do start the season well and if they can start very well in the First Division, that will see them through for the year.

"So I’m reasonably optimistic about QPR’s chances next year. To say, ‘will they reach the Premier League’, perhaps that’s a different matter, but I think they’ll compete very well in the First Division."

Jackett also feels that the club have the right man in charge, and he will hoping that some of Ian Holloway’s qualities have rubbed off on him.

"He’s a first class man, first and foremost: everybody would both like and respect him," said the Swansea boss.

"He’s got a good balance between being laid back with players and making them feel comfortable, but he isn’t afraid, at the right time, to tell them where they’re going wrong, and it’s a balance that I’m sure every manager strives for and I think Ian’s got that."

Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?