Jackett’s Open Letter

Kenny Jackett has taken the unusual support of asking the Evening Post to print an open letter of him for the fans. Not since the night when a demented John Hollins ventured onto the North Bank at a midweek game has a manager decided to speak so openly at anything other than a fans forum organised by the trust.

It is understood that Kenny rang the Sports Desk at the paper and asked them to print the following letter from him following on from criticism that he received after and leading up to the QPR game. Many fans were unhappy with the way that the team was performing and at Loftus Road there were calls from the travelling support to QPR to take the former Wales international back.

However, two wins over the Bank Holiday weekend have eased the pressure on Jackett from parts of the support but this is the message that he wanted the post to convey.

“I would like to respond to the criticism of performances in recent games from supporters and the media prior to this weekend. I have worked on trying to get my team to pass the ball forward quicker. Scoring goals is about counter attacking quickly before the opposition can get goal side of the ball and regain their defensive position. We have not done that with enough control or understanding and our play forward has been too frantic. This is a balance I am working hard to address but I refute any suggestions that my playing style is just to ‘lump it forward’. I have worked from day one on having a short pass and a long pass in my team and try to be creative and constructive in possession. I accept that if results are not right then I will get criticised whatever I do, but it is very important to me to play an attractive brand of football in my time in charge at the Vetch Field. I felt it was important to convey my thoughts to the Swansea public and you can rest assured that no one will work harder than me to produce an entertaining and winning football team at this club. Thank you for your continued support. Kenny Jackett”

Whatever your thoughts on Kenny Jackett I would say that this move is a positive, if not a surprising, move to make but it also shows that he is concerned about the thoughts of the fans and yet again he accepts that he deserves criticism if things are not going right.

He clearly states that his style is not to lump it forward suggesting that maybe his instructions were not being followed in the early games as he wished. No doubt his knockers will believe different but it was a suggestion put forward early on in the debates prior to last weekend.

Although this isn’t the sort of event that happens every day from me it is a big thumbs up for Kenny for taking the time to share his thoughts via the local media and another positive sign that I believe we have the right manager in place.

KENNY JACKETT’s BARMY ARMY