#swanseacityfc — Public Fediverse posts

SWANSEA: Ten kids from Llanelli and Blaenymaes flew to Mexico City to represent Wales — and came fifth in the world

Ten young people from Swansea flew to Mexico City last week and came home with a fifth-place finish at the Street Child World Cup — Wales’s first ever appearance at the tournament, and one that took 18 months of fundraising by the players themselves to make happen.

The boys team was drawn entirely from Swansea City AFC Foundation’s Premier League Kicks sessions in Llanelli and Blaenymaes — two of the programme’s community sites in south-west Wales that offer free football and personal development sessions to young people who might not otherwise have access to them.

The Street Child World Cup, organised by Street Child United, is not a conventional football tournament. It uses sport, art and advocacy to challenge the stigma faced by street-connected children and campaign for their rights — shining a spotlight on young people living in street situations and the fundamental rights they often lack. Alongside the football, participants took part in arts workshops and congress sessions focused on human rights, diversity and cultural understanding.

Wales entered two teams — the boys’ side from Swansea, and a girls’ team based in Blaenau Gwent. The boys finished fifth overall in their first appearance on the global stage.

What makes the achievement particularly striking is how the players got there. The young people selected from the Premier League Kicks sessions spent 18 months volunteering and fundraising to cover the costs of the trip themselves — a commitment that required sustained effort long before any of them set foot on a pitch in Mexico.

Thomas Williams, Head of Programmes at Swansea City AFC Foundation, said the experience had been everything the programme hoped it would be. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Street Child World Cup, offering deserving young people a once-in-a-lifetime experience to represent Wales and play football against teams from across the globe,” he said.

“Young people from our Premier League Kicks sites in Llanelli and Blaenymaes were selected and over the last 18 months have been volunteering to raise funds to cover the costs of the trip,” Williams added.

“The young people selected from our Premier League Kicks sessions demonstrated tremendous commitment throughout the journey, spending 18 months fundraising to help make the trip possible. We could not be prouder of everything they achieved both on and off the pitch.”

The Premier League Kicks programme operates across Swansea City Foundation’s community sites, offering free sessions to young people in areas where access to sport and structured activities can be limited. For many of those who took part in the Mexico trip, it will have been their first time travelling internationally.

Wales’s debut appearance at the Street Child World Cup ended with a fifth-place finish — a result that, given it was the nation’s first ever entry in the tournament, represents a remarkable start for a programme built not on elite talent but on community, commitment and opportunity.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea City Foundation news from Swansea Bay News
All our coverage of the Foundation’s community work across south-west Wales.

Premier League Kicks news from Swansea Bay News
Our coverage of the Premier League Kicks programme in Swansea and Llanelli.

From the Liberty Stadium to the World Cup studio — Ashley Williams joins BBC’s pundit team for the biggest tournament in football history

When Ashley Williams arrived at Swansea City in 2008, the club was in League One. When he left eight years later, he had played 352 times for the Swans, won the League Cup, captained the club through the Premier League, and led Wales to the semi-finals of a European Championship. This summer, he takes the next step — joining the BBC’s pundit team for the biggest World Cup in football history.

Williams was confirmed on Monday as part of an extensive BBC Sport lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which gets under way on 11 June across Canada, Mexico and the United States. The tournament features 48 nations competing across a record-breaking 104 matches — the largest in World Cup history.

He joins a panel that includes former England stars Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Micah Richards and Danny Murphy, alongside World Cup winner Olivier Giroud, Gaël Clichy and César Azpilicueta. The main presenting team is led by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott, broadcasting from a brand new studio in Salford.

It is a role that reflects Williams’ standing as one of the most respected football voices in Britain since his retirement from playing in January 2021. He has since become a regular pundit on both BBC Sport and Sky Sports, earning a Football Supporters’ Association nomination for TV/Radio Pundit of the Year — and his appointment to the BBC’s World Cup team is the biggest assignment of his post-playing career.

There will be no Wales at this World Cup — the national side missed out in the playoffs — but Williams will represent his nation in the studio, bringing the Welsh perspective to coverage seen across the UK and beyond.

For Swansea City fans, the sight of Williams on the screen this summer will be a reminder of one of the most remarkable careers in the club’s history. He made 352 appearances between 2008 and 2016, scoring 14 goals, playing in two promotions and at one point appearing in 169 consecutive league games — a run of relentless availability that defined his character as much as his quality.

The undoubted highlight came in February 2013, when Williams lifted the League Cup as Swansea captain after a 5-0 demolition of Bradford City at Wembley — one of the most joyful days in the club’s history.

Club legend Alan Curtis, who coached Williams through much of his time in south Wales, described him without hesitation as the club’s greatest ever defender. “He is definitely one of the club’s greats,” Curtis said after Williams’ retirement. “If I was picking my best XI for this club, he would definitely be in it.”

“You have to respect that he played in the Premier League for a number of years, and he was supreme during that time,” Curtis added. “He did it at the top level. I think he probably goes down as our greatest ever defender, and one of our greatest ever players.”

Williams left Swansea for Everton in 2016, going on to play for Stoke City and Bristol City before retiring with 741 career appearances and 86 caps for Wales — 70 of them as captain. His proudest moment came at Euro 2016 in France, when he led Wales on an extraordinary run that defeated Slovakia, Russia and Belgium before Portugal ended their journey in the semi-finals. It remains the furthest a Welsh side has ever gone in a major international tournament.

Since retiring, Williams has thrown himself into life after football. Alongside his growing media career, he has served as Sporting Director at Stretford Paddock FC, completed his coaching badges, and become a committed CrossFit athlete — training with top UK competitors to maintain the physical standards he set throughout his playing days.

His post-playing life has not been entirely without incident. A touchline melee at one of his children’s grassroots games led to an FA improper conduct charge in 2022, and a separate altercation with a youth match linesman in 2025 — which Williams strongly denied — briefly made headlines. But neither episode has dented his reputation as one of the sport’s most engaging voices.

The BBC will broadcast 54 matches live on TV and iPlayer throughout the tournament, with all 104 available to follow across the corporation’s digital platforms. England’s group fixtures — including a meeting with Ghana — feature in the BBC’s live schedule, alongside heavyweight group games featuring Argentina, France, Brazil and Spain.

The final takes place on Sunday 19 July. Between now and then, Williams will be in the studio for some of the biggest games in world football — analysis that Swansea fans will be watching with particular pride.

For a player who came to the Liberty Stadium from Stockport County and became one of the great Premier League centre-backs of his generation, a seat at football’s biggest table feels entirely deserved.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Wales Football news from Swansea Bay News
Our coverage of the Welsh national team.

CHAMPIONSHIP: Clubs scrap financial loss rules — replacing them with a new system that could reshape how Swansea City and rivals spend

Championship clubs have voted to adopt new Squad Cost Rules (SCR) from next season, scrapping the Profit and Sustainability Rules that had governed spending in the second tier of English football.

The old rules — known as PSR — limited Championship clubs to losses of £39m across a rolling three-year period. The new system works differently: instead of measuring profit and loss, it measures what proportion of a club’s total football income is spent on the squad.

Under SCR, clubs will be permitted to spend up to 85% of their income on player and manager-related costs, including transfer fees. The higher a club’s income, the more it can spend — meaning clubs with larger stadiums, bigger attendances and more lucrative sponsorship deals will have more headroom than smaller ones.

Sixteen of the 24 Championship clubs needed to vote in favour for the rule change to pass.

The vote comes after a torrid set of financial results across the division. Of the 22 clubs that have submitted their accounts for 2024-25, the combined losses total £317m — underlining why so many clubs backed a framework they hope will give them more clarity and flexibility.

Only three Championship clubs recorded a profit in 2024-25. One of those, Stoke City, only did so because a £90m loan was written off by new owner John Coates — without that, Stoke would have posted a £29m loss.

Swansea City’s own accounts showed a £21.6m loss for 2024-25, with the ownership group pumping in £21m to keep the club afloat. The Swans’ backers include hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, who has outlined an ambitious ten-year plan to turn the club into a global name, and Martha Stewart, who joined as co-owner in December 2024.

Under the new rules, owners will be permitted to inject additional funds through an equity top-up allowance of £33m over a three-year period, with no more than £15m usable in any single season — giving ambitious ownership groups a defined mechanism to spend beyond what income alone would allow.

The English Football League said the new framework would allow real-time monitoring of clubs’ finances during the season, rather than reviewing accounts after the fact — giving both clubs and regulators earlier visibility of any problems.

The change broadly mirrors what the Premier League approved for its own clubs in November, bringing the two divisions into closer alignment on how financial rules are structured.

The new rules will also include safeguards around commercial deals involving owners or associated parties — an attempt to prevent clubs from artificially inflating their income through related-party transactions.

SCR benefits clubs with bigger stadiums and more lucrative commercial arrangements, as their higher income base creates a larger budget to spend on players. For Swansea City, growing commercial revenue — including through the club’s celebrity ownership profile — could therefore translate directly into greater spending power on the pitch.

In League One, clubs will now be limited to spending 50% of their turnover on wages — down from 60% previously — under modifications to the Salary Cost Management Protocol.

Clubs relegated from the Championship into League One will be given some breathing room, permitted to spend 65% of turnover on wages in their first season down — reduced from the previous allowance of 75%.

League Two clubs were also asked to vote on adopting the same revised wage calculation, but the proposal did not gain enough support to pass.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANS ACCOUNTS: £21.6m loss as owners pump in £21m — before Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart came on board
The scale of Swansea City’s financial challenge — and the celebrity backing behind the club.

‘I AIN’T PLAYING’: Snoop Dogg reveals ten-year plan to make Swansea the ‘Vegas of Wales’
The rap legend’s ambitious vision for Swansea City and the wider city.

Martha Stewart joins Swansea City as co-owner
The American businesswoman became the latest celebrity backer in December 2024.

SWANSEA CITY: Planners give fan zone the green light in principle — but the club has got some work to do

The principle is fine. Planners have accepted that a covered fan zone capable of holding more than 1,700 supporters behind the South Stand at the Swansea.com Stadium — with self-pour beer taps, a big screen and bierkeller bench seating — is an appropriate use of the site. The site is in the right location, it serves an identified need, and the planning history supports it.

But the response is detailed, and AFL Architects have a fair bit of work to do before a formal application can go in.

The most immediate problem is trees. The plans appear to show the building line coming right up to the row of trees along the southern edge of the active travel path — the walking and cycling route that runs along the northern edge of the site. Planners say those trees must stay, and the building will need to pull back to accommodate them.

That active travel route — which connects the Swansea City FC stadium area to the city centre and railway station — is a recurring theme throughout the response. Planners want a clearer design solution for how fans arriving at the fan zone will safely coexist with cyclists and pedestrians using the path.

The fan zone site sits in the same rapidly developing part of Swansea as the proposed new home for the Landore Park and Ride, which is being studied for relocation to Alamein Road just across from the stadium — a sign of just how much development pressure is building up in this corner of the city.

The area is moving fast in all directions — and construction on the £49m Skyline Swansea cable car and luge attraction began today, with earthworks starting on Kilvey Hill and groundworks under way at the Landore Park and Ride basecamp.

On design, the architects are told to go further. Planners want vibrant colours on the exposed steel framing, clerestory windows, a butterfly truss to bring in natural light, and an entrance canopy that takes design cues from the triangular structures of the stadium and the adjacent footbridge. The view toward Kilvey Hill — where the Skyline cable car could one day be visible — is flagged as an opportunity to exploit from the mezzanine level.

Accessibility is a gap in the current submission. The plans include a mezzanine level — which planners support — but say nothing about how wheelchair users and people with mobility needs will reach it. External lifts are recommended, and planners suggest making them a visual feature rather than something bolted on as an afterthought.

South Wales Police have also had their say, and their concerns are serious. They want physical hostile vehicle mitigation — barriers meeting security standard ISO 22343-1 — to prevent vehicles being used as weapons against crowds arriving at the fan zone. CCTV coverage, appropriate lighting, and measures to lock down the structure when not in use are also required.

And then there’s Martyn’s Law. The club will need to demonstrate how the fan zone complies with the Protected Duty under the legislation introduced following the Manchester Arena bombing. Given the venue’s capacity of more than 1,700, it falls within the enhanced tier — meaning formal security planning is not optional.

Noise is another issue. Residential properties in the Copper Quarter, including seven-storey apartment blocks with river-facing balconies, lie to the east. A designated Quiet Area sits around 70 metres away. A Noise Impact Assessment will likely be required, and the club needs to set out clearly what hours it proposes to operate — including for non-matchday events.

On the question of location — the site is outside a defined retail and leisure centre, which requires justification under planning policy — planners are broadly satisfied. They accept the fan zone serves a specific need linked to the stadium and couldn’t simply be relocated to a nearby retail park.

But they want the formal application backed up by stronger evidence: Championship fan zone comparisons, supporter experience data and the club’s own fan engagement plan would all help make the case.

There’s also a drainage note worth flagging for the architects. A sewer pipe runs beneath the active travel path to the north of the site, which could constrain construction.

The architects now have the full response and will be working on revised proposals. The club has publicly said it wants the fan zone ready for the 2026/27 season — a timeline that is looking tight but not impossible if a revised application moves quickly through the system.

More on Swansea City and the stadium district

Swansea City plan huge fan zone for more than 1,700 fans
The original proposals — self-pour beer taps, a big screen and a bierkeller vibe.

Landore Park and Ride set to move across the road to Alamein Road
How the wider stadium district is being reimagined — and what it means for transport.

Penderyn Distillery handed keys to Morfa Copperworks site
Another major development transforming the area around the stadium.

Swansea’s Skyline project moves a step closer
The cable car proposal that would take visitors up Kilvey Hill — visible from the fan zone’s mezzanine level.

SWANSEA CITY: Play-offs should be the target for Vitor Matos next season, says Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman

Swansea City’s top-half Championship finish was a more than acceptable outcome for Vitor Matos’s first full season in charge — but the play-offs should be the target next time around, according to Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman.

Goodman, speaking to Parimatch Casino, said Matos had done a commendable job in guiding the Swans to 11th place, particularly given the circumstances in which he took over.

“When Vitor Matos took over, survival was the primary goal,” Goodman said. “He guided them to an 11th-place finish. A top-half finish is very acceptable, especially considering he took over a side that was fifth from bottom and had only won four of their first 16 games. He has clearly improved them.”

Matos was confirmed as Swansea’s head coach having initially come in to steady a struggling side, and the Portuguese coach gradually put his stamp on the team with an ambitious approach to recruitment and an attacking style of play.

The transformation under Matos has taken place against a backdrop of significant change at the club. Rapper Snoop Dogg joined as a minority investor with an ambitious ten-year vision for the club, followed by American lifestyle entrepreneur and billionaire Martha Stewart, who became a co-owner after attending a match at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Off the pitch, the club is also pressing ahead with ambitious plans for a major new fan zone for more than 1,700 supporters at the Swansea.com Stadium, featuring self-pour beer taps, a big screen and a bierkeller-style atmosphere — part of the ownership group’s broader vision for the club.

However, Goodman identified clear areas for improvement heading into next season, pointing to the Swans’ record against the division’s top sides as evidence of the gap that still needs to be bridged.

“In 12 matches against the top six, they did not win a single game,” he said. “They lost eight and drew four. They also failed to win an away game against any team that finished in the top 14. Those are the obvious areas for improvement.”

The pundit said he was encouraged by the club’s ambition in the transfer market last summer and expected a similar approach this window.

“Given the ambitious recruitment we saw last season, I expect them to show similar intent this summer,” he said. “I like Vitor Matos and the style he has imparted on the team.”

With the EFL play-offs now extended to eight teams, Goodman said there was every reason for Swansea to set their sights on a top-eight finish as a minimum ambition.

“With the play-offs extending down to eighth place, I imagine that will be their target next season,” he said. “This is exactly why the play-offs have been extended to eight teams. With five games of this season to go, most teams in the league, with the exception of perhaps four or five, would have had a chance. The excitement would have been off the charts. Swansea are a team that fell into that bracket.”

Don Goodman’s quotes courtesy of Parimatch Casino.

More on Swansea City

‘I AIN’T PLAYING’: Snoop Dogg reveals ten-year plan to make Swansea the ‘Vegas of Wales’
The rap legend’s ambitious vision for the Swans — and what it means for the club’s future.

American businesswoman Martha Stewart joins Swansea City as co-owner
The lifestyle billionaire who became a co-owner after attending a match at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Swansea City plan huge fan zone for more than 1,700 fans with self-pour beer taps and a bierkeller vibe
The ambitious stadium plans that are part of the ownership group’s vision for the club.

£21.6m loss as owners pump in £21m to keep club afloat — before Snoop, Martha and celebrity investors came on board
The financial reality behind the Swans’ push for promotion.

Swansea City confirm Vítor Matos as new head coach
How the appointment that steadied the ship was made.

https://www.europesays.com/dk/77365/ Swansea City rejected in £2m bid for AIK starlet Kevin Filling #AIK #championship #KevinFilling #Stockholm #SwanseaCity #SwanseaCityFc #SwanseaCityFCNews #SwanseaCityNews #Sweden #Transfers

Fernando Llorente: My season at Swansea City was one of the best of my career – I hope Snoop Dogg helps them back to the Premier League

The Spanish striker joined Swansea ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season and went on to score 15 goals in 33 appearances, helping the club survive a remarkable great escape after being bottom of the table at one stage.

Speaking to Hajper, Llorente described his debut campaign in English football as a rollercoaster — but one he looks back on with enormous affection.

“One of the best years of my career,” he said. “Wonderful memories, first because it was my debut season in the Premier League and I played as a starter, many games, being important and decisive.”

The season was far from straightforward, however. Swansea went through three managers — Francesco Guidolin, Bob Bradley, and Paul Clement — and Llorente himself suffered a fractured rib in a clash with Virgil van Dijk early in the campaign.

“It was also very difficult because we had three coaches,” he said. “Francesco Guidolin signed me. It didn’t go well at the beginning… Then I got injured and missed about a month.”

But the second half of the season proved transformative. Clement steadied the ship and the Swans pulled off one of the great survivals, winning four of their last five games to finish 15th.

“We finished the season flying,” said Llorente. “In the second half of the season we played at an incredible level, from being bottom and everyone writing us off, we ended up 12th or 13th. Incredible.”

Llorente also paid tribute to the Jack Army, contrasting the warmth of Swansea’s supporters with the reaction he might have expected back home in Spain.

“I was very surprised by how the fans treated us when we were practically relegated — with so much love and support, no shouting, no bad words. In Spain if you’re in that situation they kill you. So you see two different cultures.”

The striker left the following summer, joining Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that came together at the last moment after interest from Chelsea fell through.

“In the summer I had offers from Chelsea — Antonio Conte, who I had played with at Juventus — but at the last moment Tottenham came in and, because Chelsea and Swansea couldn’t agree, I went to Tottenham. It’s a shame I only stayed one year.”

Now, with Swansea in the Championship and rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg among the club’s new investors, Llorente says he is keeping a close eye on developments at the Liberty Stadium.

“I hope so. For the club and the city it would be incredible. I hope they return to the Premier League,” he said. “I haven’t been back since I left and I’d love to. It’s a place where I felt very loved. I hope Snoop Dogg helps them build a great team and great group so they can get promoted.”

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Fernando Llorente’s quotes courtesy of Hajper.

Swansea City plan huge fan zone for more than 1,700 fans — with self-pour beer taps, a big screen and a bierkeller vibe

The club has lodged a pre-application planning inquiry with Swansea Council for the development, which would sit behind the South Stand on land that currently serves as little more than a service road. The reference number is 2026/0561/PRE.

And the ambition is serious. Plans drawn up by AFL Architects show a covered structure roughly 40 metres long, with rows of food and drink kiosks, a raised viewing gallery with self-pour beer taps, a stage, a large screen and bierkeller-style bench seating. Capacity at ground floor level would be around 1,166 — rising to more than 1,766 with a full upper mezzanine added above the kiosks.

The club’s own brief for the project doesn’t pull its punches about why it’s needed. It notes that 72% of fans arrive more than an hour before kick-off but currently have a poor experience — with narrow concourses, slow serving times and toilets opposite the food stands. Many supporters simply head elsewhere to spend their money before games. The new fan zone is designed to change all of that, with the brief explicitly calling for frictionless self-service technology and an Instagram “wow moment” at the entrance. Indicative visuals show a sweeping club mural running the full length of the building’s exterior.

The club wants it open for the start of the 2026/27 season.

There are some physical constraints on what can be built. A public footpath and mature trees to the west must be kept, an operational electricity substation limits the northern end, and a steep embankment restricts the east side. The architects say all of these have been worked into the design.

A second phase is also being talked about. The area beyond the fan zone could eventually house a football museum, community event space or premium food and drink venue — giving the stadium a reason for people to visit on non-matchday days too.

It all fits with the vision Snoop Dogg laid out when he became a minority investor in the club last summer. The rapper told Swansea Bay News he wanted to make Swansea “the Vegas of Wales” over the next decade — transforming the stadium into a destination, not just a matchday venue. A fan zone of this scale, with live entertainment, big screens and a self-service bar, is exactly what that would need.

The financial case for it is also pretty clear. Swansea City’s most recent accounts show the club made a £21.6 million loss last season, with owners having to pump in £21 million just to keep things running. Turnover was £22.3 million against costs of £51.3 million. Getting fans to spend more money at the ground — which the brief specifically targets — would help close that gap and reduce the owners’ reliance on writing cheques to keep the lights on.

This is a pre-application inquiry, which is the first step in the planning process rather than a full application. Swansea City Football Club has been approached for comment.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

‘I ain’t playing’: Snoop Dogg reveals ten-year plan to make Swansea the ‘Vegas of Wales’
The rap legend’s vision for the club — and how a major fan zone fits into the bigger picture.

£21.6m loss as owners pump in £21m to keep club afloat
The financial backdrop — and why growing matchday revenue matters so much to Swansea’s future.

Swansea City player ratings – subs change game as defenders suffer in Sheffield

Here’s how Swansea’s players rated during the 3-3 draw with Sheffield United 17:45, 03 Apr 2026Updated 18:05, 03…
#Sheffield #UnitedKingdom #UK #GB #England #Headlines #News #Europe #EU #Britain #GreatBritain #Premium #sheffield #SwanseaCityFC
https://www.europesays.com/uk/870946/

https://www.europesays.com/uk/870946/ Swansea City player ratings – subs change game as defenders suffer in Sheffield #Britain #England #GreatBritain #Premium #sheffield #SwanseaCityFC #UK #UnitedKingdom

SWANSEA: ‘I was just hooked’ — the Kev Johns podcast that’s become even more poignant since his stroke

A podcast recorded with Kev Johns before his mini stroke has been shared by Swansea City, giving fans a chance to hear the club’s beloved matchday host reflect on a lifetime of memories at the heart of the Jack Army — in his own words, in his own voice.

The 78-minute episode of the club’s official podcast Way Down by the Sea was recorded at the Swansea Jack in January 2026. Weeks later, Kev suffered a mini stroke. A GoFundMe campaign has since raised thousands for him and his family — and now the Swans have released the podcast, which takes on an added poignancy given what followed.

Speaking with characteristic warmth and wit, Kev — who holds an MBE for his services to the club and the community — traces his connection to the Swans all the way back to the age of seven, when his father and uncle Jack took him to his first game at the Vetch.

“I’ll never forget coming up the little slope in the North Bank and catching the sight of the pitch with the floodlights on it,” he said. “I was just hooked.”

His early heroes included Herbie Williams, Geoff Thomas and Tony Millington — but one name stands out above the rest. Vic Gommersall, a left-back who became far more than a boyhood idol.

Kev said Gommersall had become a genuine friend in later life, with the two hugging on the terraces when the Swans scored. “My boyhood hero became a friend,” he said. “And the last thing I could do for my dear friend Vic was officiate at his funeral service. It was an incredible honour — but it broke my heart.”

Kev’s path to becoming the voice of the Vetch came almost by accident. He had been working as a commentator on a fans’ football tournament when a brief mention in the Evening Post caught the club’s eye. The phone call that followed changed everything.

“I had a phone call from the Swans saying, ‘You’re doing halftime at Wembley,'” he recalled. “I said yeah. They said, ‘Why don’t you do that for us?’ I said, ‘Well, you’ve never asked.’ They said, ‘Well, we’re asking.’ I said, ‘I’ll do it.'”

The first game he hosted was against Exeter — with Uri Geller in tow. “I had to introduce Uri Geller at halftime and he bent spoons in front of the North Bank,” Kev said. “Who’s going to see a spoon at that distance? And I was going, ‘Oh, it’s incredible, the spoon is bending.’ I had a background in comedy magic — I knew exactly how he did it.”

For years, Kev received no fee — just three match tickets. It didn’t matter. “I’d be there anyway,” he said. “It’s not a money-making thing, it’s not a job. I love the club. I really do love the club. If we win, lose or draw, I’m just proud to be a Jack.”

Among the many memories he shares, the Hull game — when a Swansea win kept the club in the Football League — stands out as one of the most electric. “It was not just on the day,” he said of the tension. “It was the whole week leading up to it. It was almost like a cup final. And when that fourth goal went in — my goodness, it was incredible.”

He also played a central role during one of the darkest chapters in the club’s recent history — the Tony Petty era, when supporters feared for the club’s very existence. “Everything was done for the sake of the football club,” he said of his decision to lead the march through the city and then straight onto the pitch. “Orient were playing and their supporters joined us in the march, which is why we will always respect Orient Football Club.”

He later had Petty on his radio phone-in the following morning. “Man, I had to take him upstairs for a cup of tea afterwards because he was visibly in shock,” Kev recalled. He reserved particular praise for Nick Cusack, the club captain who put his job on the line to support the supporters’ campaign. “He stood out and he stood tall and it was remarkable what he did,” Kev said.

The podcast also takes in some of Kev’s more personal memories — including a moving service he held at the Vetch before it was demolished, for supporters whose ashes had been scattered on the pitch. And his recollections of Terry Coles, the young Swansea supporter who died following a match at the Vetch in 1994, are deeply affecting.

“Terry and the boys from Morriston had just got in — they’d been in town, no trouble whatsoever,” he said. “And he didn’t stand a chance.” Days later, Kev was asked to lead prayers at the memorial game. “I looked around the circle,” he said. “Gareth Southgate, David James — John Gregory had brought the full cup final team down to play that game. He would have been excused for using a few squad players. But he brought a full team down.”

Even now, decades on, it is clear the weight of that day has never left him.

The full episode of Way Down by the Sea is available on Spotify and YouTube.

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SWANSEA CITY: Free documentary telling the untold family story of Ivor Allchurch to be released on YouTube on Easter Monday

A documentary telling the untold human story of Ivor Allchurch — widely regarded as the greatest footballer in Swansea City’s history — is to be released free on YouTube on Easter Monday.

Ivor Allchurch – Golden Days was commissioned by the Swansea City Supporters’ Trust and made by David Brayley and Max Webborn — the filmmakers behind the critically acclaimed Wonderland – The Alice Street Story (2023). It will be available to watch for free on the Trust’s YouTube channel from 10am on Monday 6th April.

The film features in-depth interviews with Ivor’s wife, Esme, and sons, John and David, and draws on never-before-seen photographs from the family archive to tell the story of the man behind the legend — a footballer of extraordinary gifts who, those who knew him say, remained humble and grounded throughout a career that took him to the top of the game.

Allchurch signed schoolboy terms at Swansea on his 15th birthday and went on to become one of Wales’s most celebrated players, most famously as part of the Welsh squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden — still the furthest Wales have ever progressed in the tournament. He is remembered not only for his technical brilliance but for his loyalty to his home club and his dignity off the pitch.

The documentary had its premiere at the Swansea.com Stadium last October in front of the Allchurch family and a select audience, before a public screening at the Taliesin Arts Centre and further showings at the Swansea Jack pub, where members of the family and Mal Pope joined a Q&A. It was warmly received at each event, with Ivor’s son David publicly thanking the filmmakers and the Trust for telling his father’s story and keeping the club’s heritage alive.

Swans Trust chair Dave Dalton said the film had been a labour of love for everyone involved. The Trust is inviting fans everywhere to watch when it goes live on Monday morning.

Filmmaker David Brayley said it had been a privilege to work on the project. “It’s been an absolute privilege to work on this film, telling the great Ivor’s story,” he said. “As filmmakers, there’s always that feeling of nervousness as to how a film will be received, especially this one as it’s the family’s view on Swansea’s greatest ever player — but we were both thrilled with the positive and emotional reception the film received.”

The release on Easter Monday gives supporters across the world — many of whom were unable to attend the limited screenings held in Swansea over the winter — their first chance to watch the film.

Ivor Allchurch – Golden Days will be available free on the Swans Trust YouTube channel from 10am on Easter Monday, 6th April 2026.

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SWANS ACCOUNTS: £21.6m loss as owners pump in £21m to keep club afloat — before Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart and celebrity investors came on board

Swansea City have reported a £21.6 million pre-tax loss for the 2024-25 season, with the club’s owners injecting £21 million in fresh investment just to keep the operation running — even as a growing roster of celebrity backers adds glamour to an increasingly pressured financial picture.

The accounts, filed at Companies House for the year ended June 30 2025, show the loss has grown significantly from the £15.2 million reported for the previous 11-month period. It is the latest in a series of substantial annual losses that have become the financial backdrop to the Swans’ ongoing push for promotion.

Turnover grew slightly to £22.3 million — a 3.3% increase on the prior period — but operational costs surged from £47 million to £51.3 million over the same timeframe, widening the gap between what the club earns and what it spends.

Player trading produced a profit of £8.1 million for the year, down from £10.5 million in the previous period when the sale of Joel Piroe to Leeds United had boosted the figure. That profit on transfers continues to serve as an important financial cushion — without it, the headline loss would be considerably larger.

To bridge the gap, the ownership group injected £21 million into the club through an equity share issue during the 2024-25 season. The accounts were approved by the board on March 30 this year, with Brett Cravatt signing off the report. The club has confirmed that further investment has been made in the current season, suggesting the ownership group remains committed despite the ongoing losses.

The accounts were filed under the small companies regime, meaning the directors elected not to publish a full profit and loss breakdown — making detailed analysis of where the money is going more difficult for supporters and observers.

The filing covers the period before the arrival of the club’s most eye-catching investors. As Swansea Bay News has reported, rapper Snoop Dogg joined as a minority investor last summer with an ambitious ten-year vision for the club, followed by American lifestyle entrepreneur and billionaire Martha Stewart, who became a co-owner after attending a match at Swansea.com Stadium. Their financial contributions and any commercial uplift they bring fall outside the period covered by these accounts.

The Swansea City Supporters’ Trust acknowledged the figures and confirmed that football finance analyst Kieran Maguire — host of the popular Price of Football podcast — would be joining them in the coming days to help members make sense of the numbers in more depth. The Trust noted it was “pleased when investment is in exchange for equity rather than through loans” — a distinction that matters significantly for the club’s long-term financial health, as equity investment does not need to be repaid in the way that debt does.

The ownership group itself has changed significantly since the period covered by these accounts. As Swansea Bay News has previously reported, long-serving American investors Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien sold their majority stake, making way for the current era led by Cravatt and Jason Cohen.

The financial picture at Swansea reflects a wider challenge across the EFL Championship, where clubs routinely spend at levels they cannot sustain from their own revenues in pursuit of the enormous financial prize that Premier League promotion represents. The gap between Championship and Premier League broadcasting income remains vast, and the Swans have previously called publicly for a new revenue-sharing deal between the two divisions.

The club has said player trading profits helped ensure compliance with EFL Profitability and Sustainability regulations for the season — a crucial reassurance given the significant sanctions clubs can face for breaching those rules.

For supporters, the accounts underline how dependent the club remains on the continued generosity of its owners. As long as that investment keeps coming — and the new ownership group has shown no sign of stepping back — the club can continue to operate. But with losses accelerating and operational costs rising, the pressure to find a route back to the Premier League has rarely felt more acute.

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‘I AIN’T PLAYING’: Snoop Dogg reveals ten-year plan to make Swansea the ‘Vegas of Wales’

The U.S. superstar, who owns a stake in Swansea City FC, says he is “not playing” when it comes to bringing world-class hotels, clubs, and the biggest music artists to the city.

Snoop told the Mirror that he intends to use his global connections to attract top chefs and billionaire businessmen to finance a total overhaul of the city’s nightlife.

He said: “I got a ten year plan to make Swansea the Vegas of Wales. Don’t think I am playing – I got the connections to get the best chefs, I got connections with businessmen who can finance world class hotels and clubs.”

The 54-year-old father-of-four wants to create a luxury destination where the Swans can “celebrate in style” when they start winning trophies.

Modeling his vision on the legendary American party city, he explained: “Vegas is my town, I love Vegas. They have the best chefs, the best clubs, the best hotels, the best casinos, and of course the biggest artists in the world playing there.”

The rapper also plans to turn the Swansea.com Stadium into a major cultural hub, ensuring global stars no longer skip the city on their world tours.

He noted that while big artists usually hit London, Manchester, and sometimes Cardiff, he is ready to “pull some strings” to make sure the best performers head to the 20,000-seater stadium.

Snoop recently visited the city to watch his team draw 1-1 against Preston North End, taking part in a pitch-side lap of honour that delighted local fans.

The club even produced special Snoop Dogg-themed towels to mark the head-turning appearance of their minority co-owner.

The rapper has previously claimed that if he ever moved to Europe, it would be to Swansea, describing the fans as “my people.”

He added: “It’s a proper working-class city, and I feel at home there.”

The Hip‑hop icon has previously said he wanted to turn Swansea City into a global brand and help drive the club back to the Premier League — promising to be “hands on” in the process.

He’s also brought celebrity US homemaking and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart on-board in becoming a minority owner of the football club.

With Snoop’s “commercial head” now focused on the bay, the next decade could see the city’s skyline and entertainment scene transformed forever.

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Rival manager jokes he could ‘smell weed’ as Snoop Dogg makes bizarre Swansea appearance

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𝗦𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃é𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗱𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗖

Snoop Dogg heeft een privéconcert gegeven in een kantine voorafgaand aan een wedstrijd van Swansea City FC. De Amerikaanse artiest is sinds juli 2025 mede-eigenaar van de Welshe voetbalclub en bracht dinsdag voor het eerst een bezoek aan een thuiswedstrijd in de stad Swansea.

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𝗦𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃é𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗱𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗖

Snoop Dogg heeft een privéconcert gegeven in een kantine voorafgaand aan een wedstrijd van Swansea City FC. De Amerikaanse artiest is sinds juli 2025 mede-eigenaar van de Welshe voetbalclub en bracht dinsdag voor het eerst een bezoek aan een thuiswedstrijd in de stad Swansea.

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𝗦𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃é𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗱𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗖

Snoop Dogg heeft een privéconcert gegeven in een kantine voorafgaand aan een wedstrijd van Swansea City FC. De Amerikaanse artiest is sinds juli 2025 mede-eigenaar van de Welshe voetbalclub en bracht dinsdag voor het eerst een bezoek aan een thuiswedstrijd in de stad Swansea.

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#SnoopDogg #privéconcert #SwanseaCityFC

𝗦𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃é𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗱𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗖

Snoop Dogg heeft een privéconcert gegeven in een kantine voorafgaand aan een wedstrijd van Swansea City FC. De Amerikaanse artiest is sinds juli 2025 mede-eigenaar van de Welshe voetbalclub en bracht dinsdag voor het eerst een bezoek aan een thuiswedstrijd in de stad Swansea.

https://www.rtl.nl/boulevard/artikel/5571438/snoop-dogg-geeft-priveconcert-voor-voetbalduel-swansea-city-fc

#SnoopDogg #privéconcert #SwanseaCityFC

𝗦𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃é𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗱𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗖

Snoop Dogg heeft een privéconcert gegeven in een kantine voorafgaand aan een wedstrijd van Swansea City FC. De Amerikaanse artiest is sinds juli 2025 mede-eigenaar van de Welshe voetbalclub en bracht dinsdag voor het eerst een bezoek aan een thuiswedstrijd in de stad Swansea.

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#SnoopDogg #privéconcert #SwanseaCityFC

Sky Sports pundit hails ‘impressive’ Vitor Matos transformation at Swansea City – but issues top-half warning

Matos inherited a club in “genuine relegation trouble” when he replaced Alan Sheehan in December, and his start couldn’t have been worse – losing his first two games, including a devastating 3-2 collapse at West Brom after leading 2-0 at half-time.

But the Portuguese head coach has since overseen a remarkable transformation at the Swansea.com Stadium, taking 25 points from 14 games – more than the 17 points Swansea had managed in their first 18 matches of the season.

The Swans are now unbeaten in their last seven home games, winning six and drawing one, and have become a “force to be reckoned with” at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, Goodman said:

“You can’t fail to be impressed with the job he’s done. Swansea were in genuine relegation trouble when he took over, and he actually lost his first two games.

“The second of those was a 3-2 defeat away at the Hawthorns against West Brom, having been 2-0 up at half-time. At that point, you probably feared the worst. You wondered how long he would last, and you thought Swansea were in deep trouble.

“However, in the 14 games since, they’ve won eight, drawn one, and lost five, taking 25 points. To put that into perspective, they’d only taken 17 points in the first 18 games of the season.

“They’re scoring more goals, conceding fewer, and are vastly improved, particularly at home where they’re unbeaten in their last seven – with six wins and one draw – making them a force to be reckoned with.”

However, Goodman identified one area where Matos must still prove himself – results against promotion-chasing sides.

Under the 37-year-old’s management, Swansea have only beaten Wrexham and Watford from the top half of the table, losing four and drawing one in games against other high-flying teams.

Goodman added:

“The one thing I will flag up is that, even under Vitor Matos, they’re not that competitive against teams in the top half.

“They’ve only beaten Wrexham and Watford, losing four and drawing one in games against other top-half sides. That will be their aim between now and the end of the season – can they become a little bit more competitive against the better teams in the league?

“But there’s no doubt about it, you have to be impressed with the job he’s done.”

The praise from Goodman follows similar acclaim from former Premier League defender Curtis Davies, who told Swansea Bay News he was “really impressed” with Matos’s early impact at the club.

Meanwhile, legendary Scotland manager Gordon Strachan recently described Swansea as a “non-risk club” and insisted what really matters is that they’re above bitter rivals Cardiff City in the table.

The Jack Army received a further boost this week when rap legend Snoop Dogg issued a rallying cry ahead of his first visit to the Swansea.com Stadium.

Matos will be hoping to continue his impressive home form and address Goodman’s concerns when Swansea welcome ninth-placed Bristol City to the Swansea.com Stadium tomorrow lunchtime (12.30 kick off).

SNOOP IN SA1: Rap legend issues ‘Jack Army’ rallying cry ahead of first Swansea City visit

The rap icon has confirmed he will make his first visit to the Swansea.com Stadium next Tuesday (February 24) for the midweek clash with Preston North End—and he’s calling on supporters to pack the stands.

In a video posted on social media, the legendary rapper delivered a personal rallying cry to Swansea City fans ahead of his highly anticipated appearance in SA1.

‘Your Dogg Will Be at the Game’

Snoop Dogg said:

“Uh-oh. Tuesday, February 24. Swansea in Wales. That’s right. I’ll be at the game and I need to see you at the game too. Let’s go Swansea. Represent one time. Your Dogg will be at the game. Spread the word.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU78y3LgUpY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The visit marks a significant moment for the club, as Snoop became a minority investor in Swansea City alongside fellow celebrity stakeholder Luka Modrić. His good friend Martha Stewart has also invested, with the American businesswoman taking in the home clash with Wrexham back in December.

Swans Boss: ‘Everyone Is Really Excited’

Swans boss Vitor Matos has already admitted there is a fair amount of excitement around Snoop’s upcoming visit, but insists his main focus will be on securing three points.

Vitor Matos said:

“I think every time an owner of the club comes, it’s always good. He is of course high profile, everyone is really excited. We all are really excited to have him in here.

“But yeah, most important for me is to focus on the game and to focus the team on the game. Then yeah, I hope we can have a chat, and have a conversation as well with someone that is really keen on sports.

“So really happy to be having him here and that’s it until then, we still have a few games to play.”

Snoop-Mania Hits Swansea

The visit comes just days after local Swansea artist Ian Hendry successfully delivered a pop-art portrait of Snoop Dogg to the rap legend using the “Six Degrees of Separation” theory—a story that captured the imagination of fans across South Wales.

With Snoop now set to take his seat in the stands at the Swansea.com Stadium, the city is bracing for “Snoop-mania” as fans clamour for tickets to witness the historic occasion.

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Swansea favourite Kev Johns recovering after minor stroke

Swansea City posted the update on social media, wishing “our very own Kev Johns all the best” and saying he is recovering well. The club added it looks forward to welcoming him back to the Swansea.com Stadium soon.

The news has prompted a wave of support from fans, performers and people across the city who have grown up with Kev’s voice, humour and warmth — whether on stage, on air or on the terraces.

A giant of Swansea culture

Kev is one of Swansea’s most recognisable figures: a radio host, panto star, charity champion and the long‑serving club chaplain at Swansea City.

In 2022 he was awarded the Freedom of the City, recognising decades of work in the community, on stage and in local broadcasting.

He has also been open about his previous health battles. In 2023 he thanked the NHS after undergoing cancer treatment, telling Swansea Bay News at the time that he was determined to keep performing and “make the show go on”.

‘Get well soon, Kev’

Messages of support have poured in since the club’s announcement, with fans calling him “a Swansea legend”, “the voice of the Liberty” and “part of the fabric of the city”.

Kev is understood to be recovering well following the stroke last week.

Swansea City said:

“Wishing our very own Kev Johns all the best after suffering a minor stroke last week. He is recovering well and we look forward to seeing him back at the stadium soon.”

A community figure who means a lot to Swansea

From Christmas pantomimes to charity fundraisers, school visits and matchday announcements, Kev’s presence has been a constant in Swansea life for more than 30 years.

His absence from the stadium this weekend was immediately noticed by supporters — and his recovery will be watched closely by a city that has taken him firmly to its heart.

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Snoop Dogg is coming to Swansea — co‑owner to attend Swans match this month

A first trip to see the Swans in person

The club says the rapper will be in Swansea for the Championship fixture against Preston North End on Tuesday, February 24, with kick‑off at 7.45pm. It will be his first time watching the team live since joining the Swans’ ownership group in July 2025.

Snoop has been following the club from the US and will travel to south Wales to see Vítor Matos’ side under the lights.

Pitchside appearance planned

Swansea City says he will appear pitchside before the match to lead supporters in a pre‑game fan display, with more details to be confirmed in the coming days.

During his visit, the club says he also plans to spend time in the local community, meeting supporters and getting a feel for the city and region.

‘I can’t wait to finally make my first visit’

Snoop Dogg, Swansea City co‑owner, said he had been looking forward to the trip since joining the club.

“I know it has been a long time coming, but I cannot wait to finally make my first visit to Swansea City and be among all the YJBs for our game against Preston,” he said.

“From the moment we talked about me becoming an owner, I have been looking forward to the chance to be with you all at the Swansea.com Stadium.

“I have heard so many great things about the atmosphere, especially when we play under the lights.

“When I watched the Wrexham game, where we showed we are the capital of Welsh football, the noise in the stadium sounded incredible even from over 5,000 miles away. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Tickets for the Preston match are available via the club’s website.

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Gordon Strachan says Swansea City are a ‘non‑risk club’ — and insists what really matters is they’re above Cardiff City

Speaking to BetVictor, Strachan said Swansea are one of a handful of Championship sides who accept they won’t gamble the club’s future chasing Premier League riches.

The 67‑year‑old said Swansea sit in the same bracket as clubs like Burnley — teams who can go up, come down, and stay financially steady without throwing millions at promotion.

Strachan said the Swans are a club built on stability rather than boom‑and‑bust ambition.

He said the Championship is usually a division where “you’re involved in something, one way or another”, but argued Swansea’s focus should be on steadying the ship before thinking about anything bigger.

According to Strachan, even if Swansea did reach the Premier League again, supporters shouldn’t expect a spending spree.

“They’re going to accept that they’ll go up and down,” he said. “There are a couple of clubs who’ve had their backsides smacked for overspending when they get to the Premier League and it puts the club at risk.”

Strachan said Swansea’s biggest issue right now is a lack of attacking flair, especially at home, where he believes the side struggles to “force the game” and be proactive.

But he added one line guaranteed to go down well in SA1.

“The fact that Swansea are in a league above Cardiff City — that matters,” he said. “If you put Swansea in League One and they were well below Cardiff, the Cardiff fans would be alright now. It’s just the way it is with fans.”

Strachan also said Swansea remain a club players can trust, describing them as “non‑risk” compared to sides who gamble heavily on promotion.

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Swansea City co-owner Snoop Dogg suffers devastating family tragedy

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‘I want to make Swansea City a global name’ — Snoop Dogg lays out his plan for the Swans

The 54‑year‑old megastar stunned the football world last summer when he bought a minority stake in the Swans, joining Real Madrid legend Luka Modric and US businesswoman Martha Stewart in a celebrity‑heavy ownership group.

Speaking to WalesOnline, Snoop said he’s not here to sit quietly in the boardroom — he wants to help transform the club’s commercial muscle and global reach.

“I want to be real hands on,” he said. “I want to take the club in a direction maybe it hasn’t been before. We want to take Swansea to the Premier League, and to do that we are going to need money — that’s the reality of the game these days.”

‘A global name’ — and more celebrity investors?

Snoop says he’s already working on sponsorships and publicity opportunities to push Swansea onto the world stage. He’s helped launch the club’s home kit, a new beer, and a clothing line with his Death Row Records brand.

And he hinted more big‑name investors could join him — but only if they bring something meaningful to the table.

“I have invested, Martha has invested, and my boy Luka has invested,” he said. “It’s got to be somebody who can bring more than just money… a global name that attracts attention and revenue.”

Stewart has already been spotted at the Swansea.com Stadium, taking in the win over Wrexham, while Snoop’s son Cordell attended earlier in the season.

When will Snoop visit SA1?

The rapper hasn’t confirmed when he’ll make his first appearance in SA1, but says meeting the Jack Army is one of the things he’s most excited about.

“For real I want to meet with the fans,” he said. “They are one of the big reasons I invested in the team. These fans are passionate, they are real, and I want to hear what they got to say when I am in Swansea.”

He added that owning a football club has been a long‑held ambition: “I knew I always wanted to invest in a soccer team — it was all about waiting for the right opportunity.”

Backing Vítor Matos and dreaming of the play‑offs

On the pitch, Snoop says he’s been impressed by head coach Vítor Matos and believes Swansea must keep pushing for the play‑offs, even if the odds are long.

“It’s been steady, and even though Swansea is a long‑term project, we got to still dream for this season,” he said. “In the Championship you always got to believe that play‑off place is alive.”

A new era of star‑powered ownership

Modric was the first celebrity to join Swansea’s ownership group, with the club’s American leadership believing high‑profile names can boost global visibility and revenue.

With Snoop Dogg now publicly outlining his ambitions — and hinting at more celebrity involvement — Swansea City’s off‑field profile is rising fast.

Whether it leads to Premier League football remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Swans have never had an investor quite like this.

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Swansea City keen on Kyogo Furuhashi

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Punters pile in as Swansea City striker Zan Vipotnik becomes new favourite for Championship Golden Boot

The Slovenian forward — who joined the Swans on 1 August 2024 — has been in blistering form this season, hitting 10 league goals in 24 Championship appearances so far, plus two more in the EFL Cup.

That scoring streak has sent punters scrambling. According to Oddschecker, 57% of all bets in the last 24 hours have backed the 23‑year‑old to finish the season as the division’s top scorer.

Vipotnik now leads the market ahead of Southampton’s Adam Armstrong (7/1) and Coventry’s Haji Wright (12/1).

Oddschecker spokesman Chris Rogers said:

“A superb scoring spell for Swansea number nine Zan Vipotnik has seen the Slovenian’s odds for top scorer halved from 12/1 into 6/1. Punters have piled in on the former Bordeaux man with 57% of bets over the last 24 hours backing the powerful forward to finish the season as Championship top scorer.”

The Swans’ No.9 has quickly become a fan favourite since arriving from Bordeaux, with his physical style, movement and finishing giving Swansea a focal point they’ve lacked in recent seasons.

Standing at 1.85m and playing as a centre‑forward, he has also become a regular for Slovenia, earning 22 senior caps.

Championship Top Scorer Odds

Zan Vipotnik 6/1

Adam Armstrong 7/1

Haji Wright 12/1

Ellis Simms 14/1

Joe Gelhardt 14/1

Jack Clarke 16/1

Kieffer Moore 16/1

Morgan Whittaker 18/1

Jovon Makama 22/1

Jay Stansfield 22/1

Curtis Davies says he’s “really impressed” with Vítor Matos’ early impact at Swansea City

Speaking to BetVictor, the Sky Sports EFL pundit said the Swans’ new boss has already shown he can handle the intensity of the division despite arriving with little senior managerial experience.

Davies said the managerial merry‑go‑round that eventually brought Matos to Swansea was “weird”, revealing he’d heard the 36‑year‑old had been on Oxford’s radar before the Swans made their move.

Curtis Davies, speaking to BetVictor, said:

“Apparently, Vítor Matos was meant to go to Oxford and he was one they were keeping their eye on — but then he ended up going to Swansea. It’s really interesting to see that.”

Davies said he was particularly struck by Swansea’s performance against Wrexham, praising Matos’ flexibility and refusal to force a rigid style on the squad.

“When I watched the Swansea vs Wrexham game, the way he wanted to play football… the way he got to grips with the Championship was impressive. He wasn’t married to a style or insisting they had to play a certain way.”

The former Aston Villa and West Brom defender said Matos’ hunger and background made him a good fit for a club operating with financial limits.

“He’s a young manager who’s done his hard yards. He’ll be hungry for this opportunity. Swansea will have a ceiling in terms of budgets and players they can get in, so it’s about doing the best with the group he’s got.”

Davies also highlighted the challenge of stepping in after Alan Sheehan, who had been part of the coaching setup and knew the squad inside out.

“He took over from someone who knew the club and the players. So I think Vítor Matos has done really well stepping into the job at Swansea City.”

Matos, who arrived from Liga Portugal 2 club Marítimo, has been tasked with steadying the Swans after a turbulent period of managerial changes and inconsistent form.

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