EPL side Swansea said that it is "looking at possible overseas sponsorship avenues" after it "played down reports" of potential foreign investment coming in to the club, according to the PA. The Premier League club "denied takeover speculation" after reports said that it is "talking to possible investors" from the U.S., Russia and Asia. A club spokesperson said that "preliminary talks were designed to increase commercial investment and revenue streams." Swansea Chair Huw Jenkins said in September that Swansea was “miles behind” most of its rivals in terms of commercial income. Jenkins: "One of the big things we need to do if we are to develop as a club, and try our best to compete with the best teams, is find a way of growing commercially" (PA, 10/1). The SOUTH WALES EVENING POST reported while the prospect of outside investors buying shares in Swansea "is not inconceivable," the club is "adamant that despite rumours which have been circulating, there is no prospect of them being taken over at this stage." The American contingent, who have links with U.S.-based Swansea Dir Brian Katzen, "are understood to have travelled to Wales for the game against Southampton earlier this month, when they took a look around the club." As things stand, its major sources of income "are television money and transfers." Jenkins "stressed that Swansea need to find extra cash." Swansea is hoping to increase the capacity of its stadium -- "which will come at a significant cost" -- as well as pumping money into its two new training bases and its academy (SOUTH WALES EVENING POST, 10/1).
FOREIGN INVESTMENT: The BBC's Simon Davies opined as the club fights to compete with richer rivals, there is "a genuine question to be asked." Should it "consider a wealthy, perhaps foreign, addition to the boardroom?" Recent reports have fueled the debate about "whether a new style of ownership is needed for the club to progress further." Perhaps unsurprisingly, "when I suggested talk of a foreign takeover, I encountered widespread dismay by Swansea fans on social media." Lifelong fan Tony Sharpe said, "The day we get a foreign owner is the day I stop supporting." But what sets Swansea apart from all its top-flight rivals "is the supporter input in the boardroom." The Swansea City Supporters Trust owns 20% of the club "and has a representative on the board of directors, a model lauded by football fan groups." Supporters Direct PR Head Kevin Rye said, "They are one of the most routed fan-involved clubs in the country and that is something Swansea fans are very proud of and anyone coming in needs to understand that." This "is an ambitious Swansea board," led by Jenkins, whose
judgement of appointing managers "is arguably unrivalled in English
football." Despite "the financial prudence which has served them well,
there is a feeling that only with considerable money coming in, can they
progress any further." A senior source at the club said that it always listens to "whoever knocks the door and they would be silly not to" (BBC, 10/1).