The Jackett Years

Kenny Jackett was appointed manager of Swansea City on 5 April 2004. His predecessor, Brian Flynn had been sacked just a few weeks earlier after seeing his side fall into mid table when a play off berth was what was hoped. Jackett was not the big name that the fans wanted to see nor was he welcomed by all the support base on his appointment. That initial lack of support was compounded in the early weeks of his reign especially as the Swans crashed out the FAW Premier Cup in his opening game with a 2-0 defeat at Rhyl. A bumpy road was ahead? Four straight league defeats didn’t help before Jackett experienced his first Swansea win with a 2-1 win at Darlington before ending the season with a goal less draw against York

With a summer to prepare Jackett was ready to face arguably the biggest season in the club’s history. Promotion from the bottom flight was pretty much taken as essential as the club prepared to say goodbye to their home of 93 years – the Vetch Field – and move to what is now known as the Liberty Stadium. And if the end of the previous season was a little rocky the new season started just as badly with a home defeat to Northampton and after four games the Swans had just four points on the board. An embarrassing 3-0 defeat at Jackett’s former club – QPR – in the Carling Cup led to many to call for his head and it seemed that we were in for a short term manager.

But two 1-0 victories over an August Bank Holiday weekend and the Swans were in business and on the road to what ended as a promotion – secured on the last day of the season at Bury. There were many lacklustre performances that season which resulted in sloppy defeats but the ultimate aim had been achieved and the Swans were back in League One. With the hard work done, the club prepared to say goodbye to the Vetch Field and Andy Robinson scored the old lady’s last goal as the FAW Premier Cup came to Swansea for the first time with a victory over Wrexham. A trophy just added to emotional scenes at the Vetch and the Swans prepared to move home

As the Swans settled in their new surroundings few expected the start that the Swans had to that season. A few early ground out wins were sparked into life when a Lee Trundle-less Swansea sizzled at Walsall and then capped an incredible few weeks with a 7-1 hammering of Bristol City and a 5-1 result against Chesterfield at the Liberty. The Swans were not only holding their own they were pulling clear at the top and crowds were incredibly averaging almost 15,000 – almost 50% more than the Vetch Field could hold. And when Lee Trundle scored a sensational second against Yeovil at the Liberty it seemed for all the world that a second promotion was just a matter of time.

But the cracks started to show and results became far more scratchy and wins further and further apart. However, there was money available to Jackett and even with the poorer results at the time as we spent over half a million on the likes of Fallon, Knight, Way and Williams people just assumed we were in a sticky patch and it would come good. But from clear at the top the Swans slipped slowly down the table and only a last day victory over Chesterfield secured our spot in the play offs. But that spot secured we proceeded to reach the final and, despite being clearly the better team on the day, we failed in the penalty shoot out and the memory of the Football League Trophy and FAW Premier Cup wins were not enough to keep people happy

Promotion was the only target for this season and that is something that so far has always looked one step too many away from us. Through the season the Swans have flirted with the bottom end of the play off positions and unrest has grown. Despite great wins like Sheffield United away, league performances have been too inconsistent and the last two league games have seen crowds dip below the 10,000 mark for the first time since the club moved home. Criticism of the manager and his tactics have grown and his handling of the players was brought into question on more than one occasion. But through all of that there have been very few rumblings at the ground for a change in management and he seemingly had the support of his chairman. But clearly that was not enough as the two sides parted company after less than three years in tandem.

The Kenny Jackett era at Swansea City has come to an end and whilst we wish Kenny all the best for the future we now have to look to the future of our club and its new management.