Soccer

Paul Clement sacked by Swansea City after almost a year in charge

Chairman Huw Jenkins took decision with club at bottom of the Premier League

Paul Clement has been sacked as Swansea manager. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Wed Dec 20 2017 - 20:19

Paul Clement has been sacked by Swansea after almost a year in charge of the Welsh club. Swansea were left rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after defeat at Everton last week and the board finally lost patience.

Clement saved Swansea from the drop last season after taking up his post in January when the club were in the relegation zone but has presided over a series of poor results this campaign. He joined from Bayern Munich where he was assistant coach and had previously been manager at Derby. Clement’s assistants, Nigel Gibbs and Karl Halabi, have also left the Welsh club.

“To change the manager, especially at only the halfway point of the season, is the last thing we wanted to do as a club,” said Swansea City chairman, Huw Jenkins, in an official statement. “We had three different manager last season and as a result we all wanted to give Paul as much time as possible to turn things around.

“But we felt we couldn’t leave it any longer and needed to make a change to give us the best chance of an uplift and a turnaround in fortunes with the club bottom of the Premier League. Paul has been at the club for 12 months and what he achieved in the second half of last season to keep us in the top flight was a tremendous feat. For that, and his effort and commitment this season, it goes without saying that the club thanks him for his work, together with Nigel [Gibbs] and Karl [Halab].

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“I have had an excellent working relationship with Paul and we are all, including the owners, surprised and disappointed it hasn’t worked out this season. We wish Paul every success in his career going forward.’’

Striker Tammy Abraham, who is on loan this campaign from Chelsea, said after the reverse at Everton: “We are behind him, he is a great manager and he did the job here last year.”

– Guardian

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