I’d like to start by wishing all our supporters a happy new year and hope that you and your loved ones are keeping safe and well.

It has been a strange and difficult period for everyone associated with the club as once again we find ourselves in a position of uncertainty.

Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Southampton will mark our first home game – and fixture of any kind - since we hosted Nottingham Forest on December 11.

Unfortunately, due to current restrictions imposed by Welsh Government, all sport in Wales has to be played behind closed doors so we will be without the backing of our fantastic supporters at the Swansea.com Stadium until further notice.

After so much uncertainty both locally and across the UK, and in communities all over the world, we are approaching two years since the global pandemic first took hold and caused so much pain and anguish for millions.

As we started the 2021-22 season with supporters in attendance at grounds up and down the country, it felt like a real lift in everyone’s spirits and a sense of normality had started to take hold. It is now difficult to find the words to describe how, once more, we are having to play games without the backing of or loyal supporters, for which Swansea City means so much.

Both myself and everyone at the club is acutely aware of how important watching sport and football in particular is to so many people, both as a hobby and a way of switching off from other things that might be happening in life.

Football has the ability to give people joy that cannot be rivalled, whether it is the familiarity of seeing friends and family at matches, taking in your matchday routine, going to your favourite pub, tucking into something to eat or experiencing the joy of three points which can mean so much to so many.

Similar to many other businesses at the moment, we are attempting to navigate through an extremely challenging time without knowing exactly what the future holds.

That said, we are also trying to remain positive and press forward, knowing that you will be back with us in the near future.

As you are all aware, with it being January, the transfer window is now open again.

We took the decision to recall Kyle Joseph from his loan spell at Cheltenham Town, while Morgan Whittaker has joined Lincoln City for the second half of the campaign.

We were understandably disappointed to lose Ethan Laird after he was recalled by Manchester United and subsequently loaned out to Bournemouth. Ethan had a terrific first half of the season with us and we were looking forward to seeing him continue his development with us under the guidance of Russell and his staff.

I know we will be heavily linked to many players over the course of the coming days and weeks, but I can assure supporters that the club is working hard behind the scenes to improve the squad.

Earlier today we announced that the club triggered a one-year contract extension for Jamie Paterson.

Jamie has been superb since he joined us back in the summer, scoring eight goals and chipping in with four assists in 22 appearances this season.

I feel we came out of the summer window in a strong position and we want to bring in players who are hungry, want to improve and, above all, want to play for Swansea City.

In early December we launched season ticket renewals for the 2022-23 season, and as part of this we have also re-introduced the early bird window. Season ticket holders who renew for next season, before Monday, January 31, can take advantage of the discounted rate tickets. Our youngest supporters can renew from just £49 per ticket, working out at approximately £2.13 per game.

The club has strived to reduce season ticket prices significantly over the past four seasons and we are pleased to offer one of the cheapest season ticket pricing structures across the Championship. Full information regarding season tickets can be found on our website.

This year’s campaign ‘Our Fortress, Your Home’ epitomises our desire to get the Jack Army back into our stadium for good, with your support so crucial in backing Russell Martin, his staff and the players to what we want to achieve.

During my time at the club I have witnessed just how passionate our supporters are, and feel inspired by your devotion to our team. The club has experienced many highs and lows over the years, but one thing will always remain constant – the Jack Army.

The past year has hit the club with unprecedented challenges. From getting limited numbers of supporters back into the ground for our play-off fixtures last season, to the introduction of Covid passes in October and now our current predicament, where we once again find ourselves playing behind closed doors.  

The club endeavours to do all we possibly can to help our supporters, whether that be helping with setting up streaming codes to watch our home league games on SwansTV, or getting fans back into the Swansea.com Stadium as safely as possible, when restrictions allow us to do so.

We recognise that our supporters are currently able to travel to fixtures in England and while we see that as great benefit in terms of your backing to Russell and the players, we do urge everyone to keep safe and protect yourselves wherever you can.

We will continue to lobby Welsh Government in the event we see parity with England in terms of the data, in the hope that we can get back to a sense of normality.

Full information around season tickets for the 2022-23 season can be found below. Renewals will be available until Thursday, March 31 with general sale starting from Friday, April 1. Supporters who wish to purchase a general sale ticket can register their interest in advance of this date.

Thank you for your continued support.

Julian Winter, chief executive