Andy Coleman | Chairman's update
![Andy Coleman](https://cdn.swanseacity.com/sites/default/files/2023-09/Andy%20Coleman.jpg)
Ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season, chairman Andy Coleman can provide the following update to supporters.
As the new season kicks off, I want to reflect on a busy summer across the football club.
It may technically have been the off-season, but it has hardly felt that way in Swansea. Luke Williams, his coaches, and the rest of the first-team staff have been working flat out all summer to prepare for this season. Their planning and preparation, coupled with our robust pre-season programme, has given us a strong platform on which to start the campaign.
While work remains to be done in the transfer market, we are excited about the players we have signed so far. We have made investments in the scouting and recruitment departments and that has allowed us to explore new markets to find emerging talents. We believe the players we have signed fit our style of play, have the right character to succeed with Swansea in the Championship, and bring attributes that improve the squad in key areas of need.
Additionally, we have prioritised permanent deals for young players on longer-term contracts. This establishes much greater squad stability than the club has had in recent years, reducing the requirement to bring in large numbers of new players each summer and strengthening our position in future transfer windows.
I am optimistic about where Luke and his staff can take this team.
As the turnstiles open at the Swanea.com Stadium next week, you will see some of the major investments we have made to enhance the facilities and offerings around the stadium bowl and concourses to improve your matchday experience.
We have heard the feedback from supporters, whether in my meetings with the Jack Army or through the Supporters’ Trust Matchday Experience Survey and our Matchday Experience Working Group.
I want to highlight the incredible work our facilities and operations staff have done over the last few months to complete several major works projects in time for the season opener.
One of the changes that I am most excited about is the redesign and renaming of the bar in the East Stand as the ‘Mel Nurse Bar’. We are so happy to be honouring Mel, one of the Swans’ greatest ever both on the pitch and in the Boardroom. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
There is also new paint work, new safe standing areas, and new menus on the concourse, among other improvements. I think supporters will instantly notice the different look and feel and I’m excited for the start of our home fixtures.
We held our second annual family fun day and open training session in the stadium last month. Thousands of young Swansea fans had the opportunity to see their heroes up close and the event underscored our commitment to support our fans and our community.
Community will always be at the heart of what we do. It is absolutely essential that we focus on our community, especially at a time when so many are experiencing division and disorder.
As a father of young girls who went to the Taylor Swift concert in Wales this summer, my heart breaks for the victims and their families in Southport. As an American, I am sadly all too familiar with this type of tragedy. The best, the only, effective response is when communities come together to support one another through these difficult times.
Football has a unique power to bring people together. We are Swansea City by name and the City of Swansea is integral to our mission and purpose. We have always aimed to create a sense of belonging for people of all backgrounds and provide positive and memorable experiences.
We hope the return of the football season and the optimism it brings helps our community – and communities across the country - at this difficult time.
I can’t wait for the season to start. We have been working hard and building the foundations for long-term success and raise the standards at all levels across the club.
We want you to be proud of this club and we will all keep working to bring the good times back to Swansea.
Take good care,
Andy