TOWN Director Lee Power has released the following statement:
I’m delighted to be officially joining The Board of Swindon Town Football Club.
I don’t think it’s any secret that I have been working in the background for the past few months and am pleased that I can finally talk in an official capacity. I am very excited about helping the club with the challenge of continuing to be successful on the pitch and also assisting in achieving financial sustainability. We (The Board) are extremely confident of achieving this but to ease all supporters' concerns, until this has been achieved, we (The Board) will continue to finance any shortfall.
We knew this was the case in the short term and we are prepared to do so going forward until the club is where it needs to be financially. We also have to be aware of the new FFP rules which we would have exceeded considerably if we hadn’t taken the steps we had over the summer. From my personal point of view I feel I can add a lot to the club with my extensive business and football experience.
As you are aware there has been a significant turnover of players and there will continue to be so until the budget is reduced to where it needs to be. The club has achieved success over the past couple of seasons signing experienced professionals on substantial contracts. That strategy needed to change and we have to now do things in a different way but we still expect to be successful with a younger group of players mixed in with some good senior professionals. We also plan to produce an attractive and exciting style of play that Swindon has been famous for in the past.
We are excited by the players we have recruited and using the loan market to get good quality players in who fit in with the style that we play and also fit in with the wage constraints was always part of our plan. We feel that we have managed to get four loan players of real quality from Tottenham, and hopefully having them all from the same the club will make the bedding-in process a lot quicker and easier. I think a lot of people within the game consider, at that age, Spurs to have one of the strongest groups in the country.
We are actively looking for a manager at the moment but that does not mean we will not continue to be active in the transfer market. Obviously it is not an ideal situation but with the season now upon us we have to continue to move on targets that have been identified whilst still moving some players out. We have a blueprint and philosophy in place that we want to instill and we are looking for a manager and players that fit into that. I am in constant contact with Mark Cooper who has done an excellent job and will be treated as manager until we are in a position to announce a permanent manager.
I would like to reiterate my excitement at being part of this fantastic club and I would ask for a bit of patience as we work through this transitional period. I am sure if we are afforded that and you continue with your fantastic support of the club, we will give you a side to be proud of and that you look forward to coming to watch.
#COYR
Lee
