Jenkins Hopes For Long Term Stability With Laudrup

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins says he hopes for some stability under new manager Michael Laudrup.

The Board have become experts in appointing managers over the years, having averaged a change in manager every two years.

In ten years, the club have had five managers - and that's not including current boss Michael Laudrup. Starting with Brian Flynn, who achieved 'The Great Escape' - avoiding relegation from the Football League in 2003. Kenny Jackett then followed, delivering success in his opening season, guiding the club to the League Two title two years later in 2005.

Roberto Martinez then took over from 2007, and the success continued under the Spaniard. Another League title followed, winning League One to move up into the Championship where they narrowly missed out on reaching the play-offs. He left to join up with his former club Wigan Athletic as the club's turnover of managers continued.

Paulo Sousa had a rather forgetful one season spell in South Wales - helping to tighten up our defence before Brendan Rodgers achieved play-off success and promotion to the Premier League in 2010/11.

Swansea City has been very much a stepping stone for managers in recent years - particularly Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers - who have both taken jobs elsewhere in the Premier League.

Will that trend change with Laudrup? Who knows, but the 48 year-old has said early on that he's not looking to move on quickly - saying he's achieved everything you can at club level as a player. Now he's looking to improve his management skills with a new challenge in the Premier League.

Speaking about Martinez and Rodgers' departure from the club, Jenkins said:

"We`ve tried our best to make sure we`re covered in terms of compensation, but always the ultimate aim is to keep your manager for a few years,"

"The reality is that the last three managers have moved on.

"If we`re successful and their managerial profiles increase, there`s very little we can do about that.

"Looking back at when managers leave, including Brendan, it depends when the opportunity comes — timing is important.

"When Roberto left, the time was right for him to leave for the Premier League with that opportunity.

"Brendan felt the opportunity was too good to turn down considering he`d had a great year and his profile was increased.

Jenkins wonders whether Laudrup will have the same career improving intentions as those two - hopefully not, he added:

"Whether Michael Laudrup views his first season with us in that same way is probably something we`ll find out later.

"But I`m sure with Michael`s background in what he`s achieved as a player, I would imagine he`s got a different outlook on where he feels his career needs to go in management.

"Like every appointment we make I hope he`s here for a few years."

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