Swansea City planning ahead in bid to compete for Premier League return - Andy Coleman
- Published
Swansea chairman Andy Coleman is a part-owner of MLS side DC United
Chairman Andy Coleman says Swansea City are planning for the next three transfer windows as they bid to become serial promotion contenders.
Swansea's owners were criticised after the Championship club failed to sign a player in the last January window.
Coleman, who became chairman in May, says they have "changed mindset" regarding transfer policy.
"I think there are lessons to be learned from successes and failures," he said.
"I was in Arlington, Virginia last January so I wasn't involved in any of those conversations [over transfers].
"What I can tell you is we are investing in data, we are investing in scouting, we are investing in [sporting director] Paul Watson and others and we are planning not only for January but for other windows as well."
Former Swansea head coach Russell Martin said in February Swansea's approach to transfers needed to change, in the wake of a window in which a string of signings were lined up to bolster the club's play-off bid but none materialised.
The feeling was that while much work on potential transfers was done by Swansea's staff in Wales, the deals collapsed as they had to be signed off in the USA.
Coleman says the 13 senior signings made over the summer are proof that those issues have been wiped out.
Jerry Yates, who arrived in a deal worth about £3m, was the most expensive of Swansea's summer recruits
"We have the ability here to move very quickly and make those decisions to improve this football club," he said.
"I have told you before: don't tell me what you are going to do, show me what you have done. The summer was a great success.
"One of the things we needed to learn from [experiences at] this football club and others, was looking at windows in a very narrow band.
"We have changed our mindset now to think three windows out. We are planning not only for January but for next summer and the next January.
"That's the only way we can build a consistent pipeline of players coming through that improve the football club."
Coleman says Swansea are in a "strong position" financially following news earlier this month that their owners had invested a further £3.5m in the club.
The Swans are 17th in the second tier - though only seven points adrift of sixth-placed Sunderland - going into Saturday's home game against Hull City, having had a mixed start to life under head coach Michael Duff.
Coleman says it was "going to take a while for folks to get accustomed to Michael's system" but remains ambitious about what can be achieved this season.
"The last 10 games have been a decent run," he added.
"What I would say is that our expectations have not changed. I very publicly outlined what our hopes and expectations are and it's consistent - pushing for promotion year in, year out.
"Any year that we are not doing that is something we have to learn from so we can consistently get ourselves on that track.
"Consistency is what we are looking for now - Michael would say the same thing. I am excited to see where the rest of the season takes us."