Planet Swans ArchivesFreestone who turned down the chance to leave the Vetch during Petty’s turbulent reign said “This is absolutely brilliant news. To be honest with you I didn’t think it was ever going to happen. Tony Petty was an arrogant and stubborn man and killing the deal with Mel Griffin proved that. However, Mel is a lifelong Swansea City fan and him and the rest of his consortium proved that they were a match for Petty although I have to say I went through a series of emotions yesterday waiting for the news.
“The longer it went on with no announcement the worse the feeling got but to get that phone call late last night was like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I went to bed a happy man and slept better than I have done for months.
“What we need now is a period of stability for this club and hopefully then we can start moving back up the football league. I have every confidence that the new owners will do right by the football club and, as Swans fans themselves, they will understand what all this means to the supporters.”
Roger had been in constant contact with me yesterday waiting, like the rest of us for the news. If he didn’t hear from me within a couple of hours then he would be on the phone again. You could hear the joy in his voice when I finally broke the news to him and like the rest of us e was overjoyed that Swansea City had “Come home”
As well as being overjoyed, there was a conversation in the afternoon, when Petty was stalling on the deal, that again proved Roger’s love for Swansea City. “When I spoke to Phil in the afternoon he told me that Petty appeared to be holding out for a better deal. This deal had to go through yesterday for the sake of the club. I told Phil to pass a message onto the consortium that if they needed it they could have had the £5,000 that we raised last Saturday at the race night. It didn’t matter to me, the club and getting rid of Tony Petty was the main thing that mattered. Of course, I’m not complaining that they didn’t need it but I would have donated it had it been necessary.
“All I am doing now is looking forward to football becoming the number one priority of the club again. Everybody has been brilliant over the last three and a half months and I am sure that it was constant pressure that eventually got us to where we are today.
“I’m now looking forward to Rochdale tomorrow, three points and a better future ahead for Swansea City.”
And we’ll all drink to that I am sure….
