Trust calls for answers as Swansea confirm fans' forum

Swansea City are winless since beating Luton Town 2-1 on 29 December

Swansea City Supporters' Trust has called for the Championship club to review their transfer strategy and leadership team in the wake of criticism of the Swans' January business.

And the trust has warned chairman Andy Coleman to be prepared to face questions over a transfer window that saw the club sell captain Matt Grimes and fail to land a number of key targets.

The message comes as the club confirmed they would hold a fans' forum at the Swansea.com Stadium later this month, with Coleman and head coach Luke Williams in attendance.

The trust – which has a 7.59% shareholding in the club, as well as a seat on the board - states it has engaged with the club since the closure of the window, with Swansea's transfer business widely criticised.

Midfielder Lewis O'Brien and defender Hannes Delcroix were the only players who arrived at Swans during the window, though the club also signed Melker Widell from AaB Aalborg, with the player returning to the Danish club on loan for the remainder of the season.

In addition to selling midfielder Grimes to Coventry City in January, Azeem Abdulai was sold to Leyton Orient while Andy Fisher went on loan to St Johnstone, while youngsters including Nathan Broome, Kyrell Wilson and Josh Thomas went out on loan.

In a letter to members, the trust said it wanted "a frank and honest review of our recruitment policy and leadership team as once again those in charge have failed to break a cycle that supporters have become all too familiar with – promises that we are ready for the January window, poorly timed departures of influential players, rife speculation on potential targets, waiting until deadline day to try to sign players, and ultimately the failure to close the right deals".

The Trust - who hold a protected 5% stake in the Swans - highlighted that club staff were left "bitterly disappointed" after the winter market and have since called for clarity on playing style, relationships with fans and the latest on plans for a new director of football.

Swansea have been without a sporting director since Paul Watson left the club in early October.

The club took their time to find a replacement, though an individual has now been identified and is set to arrive in March after serving a notice period at another club.

On Coleman, the Trust wrote: "We have spent a lot of time with Andy and have seen how deeply he cares and wants to succeed – but this has not borne out into action for supporters.

"The club need to create more regular opportunities for meaningful engagement where frank and honest discussions can be had. This is the only way to build trust."

The fans' forum will be held at the Swansea.com Stadium on 18 February.