Swansea City Women head into new era with significant investment boost
Swansea City Women is delighted to confirm it has secured significant immediate investment via the sale of a stake in the team.
Having taken the momentous step to commit to moving Swansea City Women to semi-professional status in 2023, this is viewed as another crucial juncture in our desire to improve and advance opportunities at senior and junior level.
The sale brings valuable direct investment into the team, and will help to further develop and professionalise the set-up in the short, medium and long term.
Part of that goal is to strengthen the fledgling player pathway programme we are seeking to build, with the aim of providing a clear academy structure for aspiring young footballers in Swansea and across south Wales.
Additionally, the operation of Swansea City Women has been transferred to a new limited company in order to attract further external investment from individuals who are passionate about developing the women’s game.
This new organisation will be headed up by chairwoman Jenine Cravatt, and the strategic development of the club will be underpinned by the establishment of its own dedicated board of directors.
This initial step is just the start of ambitious plans for the future of the Women’s team, and we look forward to setting out those plans in greater detail in the near future, including information regarding the make-up of the wider investment group and the long-term vision for the project on and off the field.
Jenine Cravatt, chairwoman of Swansea City Women, said: “It is an incredible honour to become part of the next era of Swansea City Women. I have tremendous respect for the club’s history and the foundations that have been built, and I believe this investment reflects a long-term commitment to its future.
"My hope is that every girl in Swansea and across Wales sees Swansea City Women as a club where she belongs, where she can dream without limits, and where she believes anything is possible. It's her turn.”
Swansea City’s head of women’s and girls’ football, Chloe Bull, said: “This direct investment into our set-up is greatly welcomed, and I know our new investors have an exciting vision for the future of Swansea City Women.
“Following a campaign where we made positive strides last season, we are keen to kick on and be firmly in the mix for silverware.
“This investment will help us to push towards those aims but, every bit as importantly, it will help us put foundations in place that can help us deliver a highly productive pathway and player development programme that sees the best and brightest talent in the region coming through the Swansea City ranks.”
Swansea City chief executive officer Tom Gorringe, added: “We have made important strides in the development of Swansea City Women in recent years, but it is no exaggeration to say this may be the most significant milestone in the club’s history.
“The energy and ambition of the new investment group, led by Jenine, and the investment secured by the sale of a minority stake in the club opens up a number of strategic sporting and business possibilities that can only benefit women’s and girls’ football in Swansea and the surrounding areas.
“Historically, Swansea has been one of the strongest teams in Wales, with a reputation of regularly winning silverware.
“We want to continue that heritage of success, while putting structures in place that can bring sustained long-term achievement on and off the field.”