Swans Targeting Players Like Britton & Tate

Huw Jenkins says the club is looking for players in the Alan Tate and Leon Britton 'mould' as we prepare for the new 2010/2011 season.

The Swansea City chairman says we've struggled against other clubs who have the extra financial advantage. Sheffield United and Leeds United are two examples of those as they signed Leon Britton and Fede Bessone from us recently on free transfers.

It's going to prove difficult to bring in the quality to replace those and Huw Jenkins says the club needs to look for players who are out there to prove themselves.

'I think that is what we need to bring into the club to take us forward over the next few years.

'The Leon situation hit home to us that we are up against teams with parachute money and also teams who have bigger average crowds and have more money to spend on players.

'But I think the vital ingredient that has taken us forward has been finding players like Leon Britton and Alan Tate — players who had a point to prove when they joined us, who have not been given a chance in the Premier League or been released by other clubs, whether it's Premier League or in the Championship.

'There are also a lot of Premier League youngsters who have moved down the divisions to restart their careers.

'If you look back at our recent history as a club we have got where we are by signing players who have that hunger and motivation to do well and to progress.

'We are the right kind of club for players to do that.'

Jenkins also admits that while it's been very slow in terms of bringing in players, they are working hard to strengthen:

'It's been very, very slow so far, but we have been working hard as always to try to make sure we get the right players in.

'We have made progress. A couple of the players we are looking to bring in are away on holiday for the next couple of weeks, but we will be moving things forward.

'While we know we have to bring in experienced players in a couple of vital areas. I think in this next month the players we bring in are hopefully going to be players that have that experience as well as the motivation needed.

'I think we lost sight of that way of doing things a little bit last year.

'A few of the signings we brought in last year were probably not brought in for the future but for the present.

'We need to redress that balance quickly and make sure our club goes back to a proper recruitment policy.'

Another thing Jenkins really needs to sort out is players and their contracts. We can't possibly afford to lose players like Leon Britton and Fede Bessone for free. Contracts need to be extended sooner and some fans have suggested on the Message Forum that players who have rejected new deals should be placed on the transfer list in order to get a decent transfer fee, instead of losing them for nothing.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.