Planet Swans ArchivesHuw was responding to Wigan's empty press conference this afternoon in which they were forced to delay confirming Roberto as their new manager as they had not agreed compensation for his backroom team.
Speaking via a statement on the club's official web site, Huw said "I think it's important that our supporters are kept fully aware of the situation surrounding Roberto and our backroom staff.
"As everyone is already aware, we reluctantly agreed compensation with Wigan for Roberto a week ago after taking into account his wish to leave Swansea City. This compensation figure was only in regards to the loss of Roberto.
"We were asked at 10.45am this morning (Thursday) to waive our right to compensation for Graeme Jones and Kevin Reeves until next week. We felt this was not the right thing for us to do as a club and we owed it to our fans to remain in a position of strength.
"As with Roberto, we have made every effort to persuade both Graeme and Kevin to stay with us, but they made it clear that their allegiance was with Roberto first rather than SwanseaCity.
"Roberto and Wigan were both fully aware that we wanted compensation for them both; not just to buy out their contracts, but for the vast amount of knowledge and experience they hold.
"Kevin Reeves, for example, as chief scout has been responsible for player recruitment at this club for the last three years. If he left, then he would not only take with him his vast knowledge of potential new signings for this summer, but also for future seasons.
"To lose our manager is bad enough, but to think we would also lose our assistant-manager and chief scout for nothing in the same compensation agreement as Roberto's is unfair and disrespectful to our football club and our fans.
"I don't want to have any bad relations with Wigan Football Club, even though the loss of our manager and possibly some of our backroom staff has clearly ripped the heart out of our football club with regards to what we have achieved in the last two and a half years.
"I firmly believe we have been more than fair with Wigan because it has already been a week since everything was agreed with them over Roberto.
"It's dragged on far too long. We've been left in limbo for the last seven to 10 days and it has clearly and severely hampered our search for a potential successor and our preparations for the new season."
