Swansea City warn of job cuts in bid to reduce costs

SWANSEA City have told employees they are facing redundancy as the financial cost of Premier League relegation continues to bite.

A letter sent to every member of staff, excluding the playing staff, manager Graham Potter and his coaching team, said the club “is continuing to see its income reducing” after last year’s relegation.

Distributed by the club’s hierarchy, the letter encourages those willing to take voluntary redundancy to step forward and asks for suggestions of ways to avoid having to lay off members of staff.

Part of the letter reads: “Following Swansea City Association Football Club’s relegation from the Premier League in May 2018 the company is continuing to see its income reducing and this will have a significant impact for both Swansea City Association Football Club and Swansea Stadium Management Company.

“After considering all possible options, the companies have concluded that there is a risk that they will be unable to continue to provide work for all of its employees and that they may therefore have to make redundancies.

“The companies will continue to explore ways of avoiding compulsory redundancies and minimising the number of employees affected. Both companies will be consulting with representatives of all affected employees in due course.”

In a statement, a spokesman for Swansea City said: “The club can confirm that a comprehensive review of its operations and organisational structure is ongoing. As part of this process all staff have received notice informing them that the review is being undertaken and as a result there is likely to be a reduction in headcount.

“We are hopeful that the offer of an improved voluntary package will limit the impact on staff. It has been a difficult decision for the club to take, but these actions are necessary as part of the ongoing attempt to reduce the cost base.”

The club has already made little secret of its cost-cutting approach in terms of playing staff, with Swansea emerging from the last two transfer windows with a profit of nearly £40m.