Rob Davies
The rumour mill has been in full swing over the past 48 hours since Steve Kaplan was spotted at The Den Tuesday night to watch the Swans lose 2-1 at Millwall.
Initially speculation was that he could be there with regards to the future of boss Russell Martin but this was quickly quashed by the manager himself in his post match interview with Kaplan apparently offering his support.
“Steve is good guy. We speak regularly,” Martin said.
“He was here for a couple of hours today which was great. We spoke a lot about the summer, about tonight, about recent events. It was a good, honest conversation.
“As I spoke about at the end of January, Steve has been great since I have been at the club.
“The final say is not with Steve. Obviously he’s heavily involved. He has been great since we have been here.”
But the American, instead of heading back to the States after his visit to London, has reportedly been in Swansea for the last couple of days with speculation ramping up that a takeover could be happening.
It’s long been thought that the owners would entertain new buyers rather than just investment into the club looking to recoup as much of the large outlay they spent on the purchase in 2016.
Indeed some media reports have suggested as much although often Championship clubs only ever get purchased when they are in real distress… perhaps the lowly league position and the backlash after the January transfer window has pushed them to make moves?
This report, albeit from three years ago, states that Kaplan and Levein would be prepared to accept offers for the club of just under £40m with a promotion bonus of £15m should the Swans return to the top flight.
It would be a surprise if they could attract that figure now with the real value probably closer to the £20/25m mark one would think in relation to the price of other clubs in this division. Especially with little sale value in the playing squad and a stadium not owned.
Whether a takeover is imminent remains to be seen but Kaplan, who resigned as a director in 2020, is not just here to check out the Gower. There has to be something in the pipeline and for now all we can do is wait and watch with intrigue.
Strange one .This will take our mind off the results for a bit. Hard to see them selling when we’ve got the last of our valued players available .
Fingers crossed 🤞.
Nothing but a disease at the club since they got involved.
The club needs sorting from to to bottom.
Strongly disagree Niggel
They won’t go until they’ve unscrewed the last light bulb
Doesn’t your constant sniping at the consortium based on your fantasies ever get you down?
Does your constant sniping, based on your fantasies, at those constant sniping at the consortium based on their fantasies, ever get you down?
The way to increase the value of the club is to invest wisely in the playing squad to become successful on the pitch. They’ve had zero ambition since taking over, and it’s been nothing more than getting the balance sheet on an even keel, which I completely understand, but that has to be coupled with ambition and investment. They have to create a feel good factor down there, cos it’s nothing but negativity right throughout the club, especially with the clown Martin in charge
I attended a meeting with a group of 8 supporters when Mike Pearlman was here,, when he was asked if the Consortium would sell his reply was (as close as I can remember), ‘If you know anyone I’m sure they would be interested.’ So that is always possible.
And, although Kaplan might have batted away initial questions about Martin I’m pretty sure he’ll staying on to assess the manager’s position.
What is interesting, and highlights some fans’ mentality, is that when Kaplan isn’t here he’s deemed to be not interested but when he is he must be selling the club.
It’s not interesting that some fans feel their absence is a sign of disinterest and that some fans think their presence is an interest in selling. It’s called a point of view not a mentality or a fantasy. The two points of view are equally legitimate severally or jointly. So one can take the view that the current presence after a long period of absence may be because they are thinking of selling. Do you get off on sniping and thinking you are the only one entitled to a point of view.
I’m dure jeff isright – as Kaplan is in the country it makes sense to see another game particularly at home to see how we perform and check out the fans’ reaction. investors would be unlikely to leave till they’d realised the market value of Obafemi,Whitaker,Piroe and maybe even Ollie Cooper .On a good day there’s a few million sitting on the table there.
Selling the entire squad wouldn’t come close to meeting their outlay.
They will recoup finances either by improving or staying long term and taking out small payments year on year.
All other arguments for and against the current owners have been repeated ad nauseam.
Now Jeff33 please, this sniping ad nauseum really has to stop.
They are here for a long time the?!
Had it occurred to anyone but me that they might be short of money with other investments and need to sell for liquidity in the states? I’m sure the club could be sold a tax write off in the US. Just wondering.
I’m dure jeff isright what sort of english is that
Slightly different tack , I thought The Swans had bought The liberty Rob ?
It was leased only Ron in 2017. Stupid decision it was too https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-set-confirm-liberty-lease
Only leased Ron in 2017. Stupid decision too!
https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-set-confirm-liberty-lease