Phil SumblerWhen the Swans dropped out of the Premier League in 2018 it was always going to have a financial impact on the club and that was none more evident with the sale of some key assets in the immediate seasons following that relegation.
The likes of Fernandez, Fabianski, McBurnie, James and Roberts were just some of the names shaved off the wage bill bringing in a mix of must needed transfer funds together with significant reductions in the wage bill.
Incomings were a mix of some good transfer fees paid, loan spells and an increased reliance on our own academy products as we looked to get a bounce back that ultimately did not succeed with two successive play off defeats ensuring an extended spell in the Championship.
This season things have been slightly different. Loan spells have been seen, there was some good spending particularly back in the summer and some players have arrived in Swansea to fit into a philosophy that it is very clear Russell Martin and his coaching staff believe in.
And now Sporting Director Mark Allen has outlined how they are working to change that transfer philosophy with a bigger eye on investing for the future as has been seen with some of the signings that were made in the January transfer window.
It is a sensible approach from any club concerned with their finances given the reduction in transfer fees required now but the upside of the strategy clear for everyone to see should the players develop as we would hope.
“We have had some successes with that this season and long may it continue,” Allen said via Wales Online.
“We are already out there looking at the next batch, if you like. It’s there for all to see that revenues in the Championship are a lot lower than the Premier League, and it is a league where there is a significant drop in revenue.
“So your money has to go a bit further, and that means we have to be prudent in terms of what we do in the transfer window for incomings and outgoings. Your funds have to work hard, that is a challenge I enjoy and one I experienced at Rangers.
“It means your planning has to be advanced, and you have to be ready early to secure the best deals that may be out there. The process is always ongoing and it never stops, and Russell and I have already had a lot of discussions about where we want to go and potential targets.
“You also need that bit of experience and know-how, those wise old heads like a Kyle Naughton – who made his 250th appearance recently and looks like he could go on forever. It is critical to the balance of the squad, and the task for Russ and myself is to make sure that balance is right.”
