Brendan Rodgers backs Julian Winter to succeed at Swansea City
Swansea City’s new chief executive, Julian Winter, will take up his post at the Liberty Stadium on Monday with a ringing endorsement from former Swan boss Brendan Rodgers.
Winter watched the Swans take on Birmingham City at the Liberty on Saturday and will begin his first day in the office tomorrow morning.
Rodgers, now manager at Premier League Leicester City, worked under Winter during his first managerial job at Watford back in 2008-09.
Winter was the CEO at Vicarage Road during Rodgers’ seven-month tenure, and the man who led the Swans to the Premier League believes his former club has made a shrewd appointment following the departure of chairman Trevor Birch last month.
“It is an excellent appointment by Swansea,’’ said Rodgers. “The club is in safe hands.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Julian. As CEO at Watford, he helped me immensely during my first spell as a manager. He was a huge support.
“He managed Watford through a very difficult period when they came down from the Premier League. He worked day and night for the club and the people to bring success and managed to turn things around there.’’
Winter, 54, will oversee all day-to-day matters at the club and arrives with a wealth of experience having held equivalent CEO roles at Watford, Sheffield United, Notts County and Huddersfield Town.
Coupled with a playing career that saw him make over 100 appearances for Huddersfield, Scunthorpe and Sheffield United, Rodgers is convinced he has all the right attributes to be a success at the Liberty Stadium.
“He understands about working at the top level,’’ added Rodgers. “He also understands all the facets of running a top club from the commercial, community and supporters, to the football side.
“He knows business, but he also knows that clubs are about people. “Swansea is very much a trinity of supporters, players and managers. He will understand and respect that.
“I’m delighted for him to go to a great club; a great city; and with great supporters.
“I’m sure he will do a fantastic job and help the club eventually get back to the Premier League.’’
