Andy Coleman: 'We'll succeed or go down trying', says Swansea City chairman
- Published
Swansea chairman Andy Coleman is also a part-owner of MLS side DC United
Chairman Andy Coleman has pledged to succeed at Swansea City "or go down trying" after setting a long-term stay in the Premier League as his target.
American businessman Coleman became Swansea chairman in May after buying a significant stake in the Championship club.
He says his decision to move to Wales in order to run day-to-day operations at Swansea proves his commitment.
"I picked everything up from 4,000 miles away," Coleman said.
"I put my money where my mouth is and I moved here. I moved my young children here."
Speaking at a fans' forum held at Swansea's stadium on Wednesday night, father-of-four Coleman added: "I don't want to tell you what I am going to do, I am going to show you what I am going to do.
"That's the first step that I could make, picking up my young family and moving over here. That was my first step in showing my commitment to you. I have got a long way to go.
"Talk is cheap. It's not going to be easy. There are going to be good days and bad days.
"The commitment I think you should want to hear from me is that I am here, I am doing this beyond full time, this is my club, this is my community and we are going to succeed here or I am going to go down trying."
Swansea have been under American ownership - led by Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan - since 2016.
The Welsh club's seven-year stay in the Premier League came to an end two years later, and they are now in their sixth successive season in the second tier.
Swansea's owners have been continually criticised for a perceived lack of ambition, but Coleman insists their "goal is to get back into the Premier League and to stay there".
Coleman is among a number of new investors at Swansea, with fellow American Brett Cravatt and US-based Briton Nigel Morris also joining the club's board last summer.
When asked about the ownership structure of the club, Coleman added: "I will share with you as much as is reasonable to do for a multitude of reasons.
"We have had a lot of new investment in the club, myself included, Brett Cravatt, Nigel Morris and others. These are set up in LLCs (limited liability companies) as you will see in any common ownership structure amongst groups.
"I along with Jason and Steve are the controlling partners and managing members of what is the largest shareholder in the club. I am the operating partner and controlling member of that group.
"We have intentionally structured our ownership so that the decision-maker, the controlling operating partner, is here making decisions, without having to go back to daddy for permission in America.
"I don't want to be part of an organisation where there's one voice. I have a skillset, Jason has a skillset, Steve has a skillset, Brett, Nigel - we all bring something to the table which makes this club stronger from a financial and a strategic perspective.
"The most important takeaway is to understand that I'm here, I'm making decisions and I'm the controlling partner of the ownership group."
Swansea are 12th in the Championship going into Saturday's home meeting with leaders Leicester City, having finished three points outside the top six last season.