Kaplan and Levien’s tumultuous Swansea ownership concludes

In 2016, Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien acquired a 68% controlling interest in Swansea City. Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan have now finalized the divestment of their majority shareholding in Swansea City to Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt, Nigel Morris, and Jason Cohen. Cravatt, Morris, and the current chairman Coleman first invested in the Championship club in 2023. They will now, alongside businessman Cohen, take complete command at the Swansea.com Stadium. This transaction concludes Kaplan and Levien’s more than eight-year period marked by setbacks and a downturn, notably including the club’s relegation from the Premier League. BBC Sport Wales investigates the factors that led Levien and Kaplan to divest their interests following a challenging period of ownership. Upon assuming control of Swansea in 2016, at a time when the club was competing in the Premier League, Kaplan and Levien pledged to “outwork our opponents on the pitch and in the boardroom.” They further stated: “We will be relentless in our determination to continually improve this club – and we have the financial resources to do so.” This mission statement was frequently referenced by Swansea supporters on social media platforms during the club’s difficulties over the subsequent eight years. Levien and Kaplan encountered challenges from the very beginning, as the Swansea City Supporters’ Trust, which possessed a 21.1% stake in the club, threatened legal action, asserting that it had been excluded from certain discussions concerning their acquisition. This contentious situation persisted for several years, and even upon its resolution in 2022, the outcome was not entirely satisfactory. The club, its previous principal shareholders, and the Supporters’ Trust “reached an agreement” concerning the disagreement. However, a considerable number of trust members expressed anger due to suggestions that they were not informed of the decision. Beyond these matters, there was the on-field performance. Francesco Guidolin served as Swansea’s manager when Levien and Kaplan assumed control. The Italian had guided the Swans to maintain their Premier League status after succeeding club legend Garry Monk during the 2015-16 season, but he was dismissed only seven matches into the new owners’ inaugural campaign. Bob Bradley, the former USA coach, was appointed as his successor. His short tenure proved challenging, with Swansea recording two victories, two draws, and seven losses before Bradley’s dismissal after merely 85 days as head coach. Swansea, a club previously commended for its operational approach in the years preceding Levien and Kaplan’s arrival, now confronted significant difficulties. There was widespread speculation regarding whether the club would have faced such a predicament had it adhered to its initial intention of reappointing Brendan Rodgers, the manager who led Swansea into the Premier League in 2011, as head coach in the summer of 2016. It is important to note, however, that the choice to support Guidolin instead of entrusting the role to Rodgers occurred a few months prior to the finalization of Levien and Kaplan’s takeover, when then-chairman Huw Jenkins still held ultimate authority. Rodgers, a Northern Irishman, was highly praised, alongside figures such as Roberto Martinez and Michael Laudrup, for the possession-oriented playing style he introduced at Swansea. Nevertheless, the club deviated from these core principles as Levien and Kaplan encountered immediate challenges upon commencing their ownership. Brendan Rodgers steered Swansea City to a 4-2 victory against Reading in the 2010-11 Championship play-off final. Paul Clement, a former assistant coach for Chelsea and Real Madrid, took over from Bradley in January 2017, guiding Swansea to avoid relegation, largely due to securing 13 points from a possible 15 in the closing fixtures. However, Clement faced difficulties in his first complete season as manager and was dismissed in December 2017, with Carlos Carvalhal appointed as his replacement. The Portuguese manager could not prevent the club’s relegation to the Championship. Following the conclusion of Swansea’s seven-year tenure in the top flight, many players, including Angel Rangel, Leon Britton, Lukasz Fabianski, Alfie Mawson, Sam Clucas, and Federico Fernandez, departed. Graham Potter was named manager for the club’s initial second-tier season since 2010-11, having previously secured three promotions during his leadership of the Swedish team Ostersunds. The English coach placed considerable