Chairman's column: Wigan

Read Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins' programme notes ahead of today's clash with Wigan Athletic.

Today’s game against Wigan Athletic provides a good opportunity to look back on our first Championship campaign since 2011.

There was a big turnaround in the summer as major changes were the priority in terms of the staff and squad.

Those changes were made in order to provide us with a chance to quickly turn our fortunes around and mount a challenge for a promotion push to get back to the Premier League at our first attempt.

With Graham Potter agreeing to become our new manager the next step was to finalise his support staff. Once that was completed the task was to reshape the playing squad.

The change within the squad was easy to see. We immediately had a young group of talented up-and-coming footballers eager and determined to make their way in the professional game.

Just as important, though, was we had a small group of more experienced professionals, who would place our success as a club as important as their own careers.

All in all, Graham and his staff have settled really well into Swansea City and, more importantly, into Championship football.

I’m confident if we can continue to find the right balance between youth and experience we can remain competitive and build on a solid first half to the season and enjoy a very successful campaign.

Our Academy cannot go unmentioned.

Several first-team players left us during the summer so the youngsters in our Academy, who had waited patiently for their chance, have now become pivotal to the club’s future success.

In the short term they have provided security in squad numbers and helped Graham keep genuine competition within the squad.

In the early months of the season there were many players who earned their Swansea City first-team debuts, which was very encouraging to see for the football club and, more importantly, for the players involved.

Looking forward, Graham, his staff, and the playing squad deserve total respect for the way they have brought the club through a difficult period of adjustment with flying colours.

With a little luck along the way and the solid support of the fans behind them I believe anything is possible in the months ahead.

As today’s game is our last fixture of 2018, I’d like to wish all our loyal fans a Happy New Year!