Watson exits as Swansea Sporting Director after 16 months
Written by
Training Ground Guru
October 13, 2024
Swansea City Sporting Director Paul Watson has left the Championship club after 16 months.
Watson joined the Swans in June 2023 after five years at Luton Town, where he had been General Operations Manager and then Chief Operating Officer. At the time of his appointment, Swansea Chairman Andy Coleman described Watson as, “an incredibly talented individual with tremendous football knowledge.”
However, he has now departed after just over a season with the club. Coleman said: “I would like to extend our thanks to Paul for his work during his time with us. We wish him every success for the future.”
Swansea City Sporting Directors (or equivalent):
Leon Britton (Sporting Director): September 2019 to June 2020.
Mark Allen (Sporting Director): January 2021 to August 2021.
Josh Marsh (pictured, Head of Football Operations): June 2022 to January 2024.
Paul Watson (Sporting Director): June 2023 to October 2024.
A club statement added: “The club will update in due course regarding recruitment plans for the position. In the meantime, Paul’s responsibilities will be handled by the existing football department staff.”
It’s fair to say that Swansea have struggled to find a long-term incumbent for the Sporting Director role. Former player Leon Britton was the first person to be appointed to the position, in September 2019, but stepped down in June 2020.
Then came Mark Allen, who was promoted from Academy Director to Sporting Director in January 2021, but only lasted eight months.
Next up was Josh Marsh, who was Huddersfield Town’s Head of Recruitment, who took on the title of Head of Football Operations in June 2022. Marsh was effectively replaced by Watson in June 2023, although he stayed on for seven months before becoming Loans and Pathways Manager at Chelsea in January 2024.
Speaking at a fans’ forum in March, Watson was scathing about the scouting and recruitment operation he had inherited upon joining the club.
He said: “There were no scouts, no processes, no nothing. There wasn’t a single person in the building, so the recruitment over the past few years, prior to us coming in, was almost on a whim. That couldn’t last.”
At the same event he also apologised for being photographed next to with former Luton manager Nathan Jones, a Cardiff City fan, during the 5-0 FA Cup fourth round defeat by Bournemouth in January.
“I worked with Nathan for five years,” Watson explained. “When I went to an away game, they put our seats together because they knew we’d worked together. On reflection, I apologise. It won’t happen again. I certainly didn’t mean to offend the fans.”
Watson played a key role in the appointment of Michael Duff as Head Coach in June 2023, but he was sacked after less than six months following a run of five wins in 19 games. Current boss Luke Williams was appointed permanent Head Coach in January this year and the Swans currently sit 11th in the Championship.
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