Planet Swans ArchivesBefore this season, the last time that Steve McLaren was a Premier League manager the Swans were in League One and losing the play off final to Barnsley at the Millennium Stadium.
Less than 10 years later there were nine Premier League places between the Swans and Newcastle last season as they avoided relegation on the last day of the season and we were on a run that saw us finish in our highest Premier League position.
So it really is little wonder the management team at Newcastle is keeping an eye on things at Swansea and using us as a model for where they want to be going forward.
Newcastle have been a club in turmoil for a few years with protests against their owner and a struggling team on the pitch that has left many frustrated by what they are seeing.
McClaren said: รขโฌลItรขโฌโขs an away test at Swansea who, over the years, have been one of the clubs who certainly that lower league and Championship clubs have modelled themselves on, or tried to.
รขโฌลThey are a perfect model for coming up through the leagues and not just consolidating, but going on.
รขโฌลThey had a change of manager and the transition was smooth.
รขโฌลI think a lot of credit goes to Huw Jenkins the chairman. He runs that club so, so well.
รขโฌลFrom the outside we look in and itรขโฌโขs a club the size of Swansea that everybody needs to follow.รขโฌย
<#nufc>
