Here are the headlines for Swansea City on Tuesday, March 12.
Swans make two appointments
Swansea football director Paul Watson announced last night on the fans’ forum that Paul Compton and Martin Hodge have joined the team that recruits players.
Compton comes as head of academy recruiting, and Hodge takes over as head of recruitment.
While Compton has worked for Wolves and Southampton as head of academy recruitment, Hodge has held positions as chief scout and head of recruitment at Burnley.
Supporters grilled club executives on Monday night. Chairman Andy Coleman defended Watson’s efforts, saying the director entered SA1 with a nonexistent recruitment system, not just a dysfunctional one.
“I have unquestionable and unshakeable faith in Paul Watson,” Coleman stated. “Not only was the system flawed when he came here last summer, but there was also no recruitment system in place. Over the past few years, I would say it has been done clumsily.
The window was open when Paul arrived, we needed a ton of players, and nothing was in place to provide Paul with the resources he required in terms of recruitment data. There will never be a sporting director who makes all of his or her signings. I was aware that becoming more proficient at this would take some time, and it still will.
“January provided a clearer illustration of our progress and areas for improvement. However, it’s crucial to understand that a lot of things need to improve, and I want every member of this team to have access to all they require in order to help the football team return to its proper position. In addition to assembling a crew and beginning to receive the necessary equipment, Paul has a lot going on behind the scenes. I have to provide him with what he needs to execute his job. Paul is here, and I have no doubt that he will lead us to our destination.
Swansea is hoping that the addition of Hodge and Compton will facilitate their hiring procedures.
Mini-derby ends in draw
On Monday night in Landore, Swansea City and Cardiff City drew 2-2 in their Professional Development League match.
Swansea’s unbeaten home run is maintained by the outcome, but they will be disappointed not to win after taking the lead twice that evening.
Mitchell Bates and Joe Thomas both scored goals to put Swansea ahead twice, but Cian Ashford’s first-half equalizer and Romaine Sawyers’ late goal for the Bluebirds stole a point for the visitors two minutes into added time.
For head coach Luke Williams, it was a successful evening as three players from his starting lineup got increased playing time. Charles Sagoe Jr., Azeem Abdulai, and Harrison Ashby are all seeing significant playing time.
Swansea has now won 17 of their home league games.
Swansea City Under-21 team roster: Azeem Abdulai (Sammy Henia-Kamau 64), Ben Lloyd, Maliq Cadogan, Mitchell Bates, Cameron Congreve (Glory Nzingo), Evan Watts, Harrison Ashby (Charles Sagoe Jr 45), Seb Dabrowski, Joel Cotterill, Kian Jenkins, Joe Thomas (Charlie Veevers 79).
Remy Mitchell was not utilized as a substitute.
Cardiff City Under-21s: Romaine Sawyers, Cody Twose (Morgan Wigley 66), Callum Robinson (Finlay Johnson 66), Troy Perrett, Cian Ashford, Freddie Cook (Joe Edwards 82), Jai Semenyo, Luey Giles, Joel Colwill, Dylan Lawlor (captain).
Joe Thomas and Dakarai Mafico were unutilized substitutes.
Williams drops summer hint
Williams acknowledged during the forum last night that he would prefer to have another attacking player available to him.
The head coach and the newly created recruitment will have a chance to rebuild this team throughout the off-season. There will be a lot of work required because loan players are scheduled to leave and some contracts are about to expire.
Williams stated that in the last part, strengthening will be the first priority.
“It’s my responsibility to set the team up in the way that best suits the most amount of our players,” he stated. “Our goal should be to figure out what is best for the group, and my main responsibility is to position them so they can attack and defend well.
“Right now, our current course of action is the best option for us. Is it flawless? If being really honest, I would want one more player in an attacking position, but we might lose at the other end of the field. However, I constantly want to make sure that I position the team such that the players are in the best possible balance. In the future, we must be a far better team.”
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