Swansea City: Chairman Andy Coleman defends club's January transfer business

Swansea City chairman Andy ColemanImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Swansea City have had three permanent head coaches - Russell Martin, Michael Duff and Luke Williams - during chairman Andy Coleman's time at the club

Swansea City chairman Andy Coleman has defended the club's January transfer business amid criticism from some fans.

The Swans brought in Ronald, Przemyslaw Placheta and Charles Sagoe Jr in the final stages of the winter window.

But many supporters remain concerned over the balance of the squad following a major overhaul in the summer.

"I think we wanted to end the window stronger than what we came into it, which I feel we've done," Coleman told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"We needed pace and some physicality, and I think Ronald is a great example of a bit of both.

"We're excited to see how all the new signings fold into the club and how they can help us move on for the rest of the season.

"There were certainly other targets that we wanted, which we didn't get, whether that be down to targets going elsewhere or not being available.

"January is never going to be a massive window, nor should it be planned to be a massive window, as there aren't typically great deals out there."

Sporting director Paul Watson has been criticised for overseeing the recruitment of several players deemed unsuited to Swansea's traditional style of play.

Two of the numerous players brought in last summer, Kristian Pedersen and Nathan Tjoe-A-On, both left on loan in January.

But chairman Coleman believes the club is now better placed to be productive in transfer windows than it was in the 2023 summer window.

"I'm aware of it (Watson criticism) and if I were a fan I'd be upset as well," added Coleman.

"The team isn't performing and we haven't seen the results we all hoped for at the start of the season.

"Injuries have certainly played a part. You can plan and have strategies in place but ultimately, if the players aren't there, it limits you significantly.

"The planning that took place going into the window did use data as a key component, but it's not the only key component.

"We worked more closely with the scouting department and the manager to make a full team enterprise, which I feel it is now.

"The set-up is very different from the summer - there were vital pieces missing from the scouting and the data side.

"Now I feel we are getting them in place, each window we progress, we will be able to utilise those tools and take advantage earlier."

Swansea have a number of contract concerns to address in the near future, with Jamie Paterson, Nathan Wood, Kyle Naughton, Liam Cullen, Joe Allen and Liam Walsh all seeing their current deals expire in the summer. Swansea do have options to extend the contracts of Wood and Cullen.

Swansea will also lose loan players Carl Rushworth, Charlie Patino, Sagoe Jr, Harrison Ashby, Jamal Lowe and Bashir Humphreys after the 2023-24 campaign.

"We've already started working on the summer, be it pre-contracts and targets, you name it, we are now in a better position to move earlier which I think is ultimately what we all want to focus on," added Coleman.

"We want to be better now and in the future. We need to build a sustainable club on and off the pitch.

"This doesn't happen overnight. I do recognise fans, they're just like me, we all want to win.

"The expectation with Luke [Williams] here is now for the players to buy into his system for the rest of the season.

"We've added the missing pieces in which we think gives them the best tools to do so."

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