Huw Jenkins (Welsh businessman)

Huw Morgan Jenkins OBE (born 9 March 1963[1]) is a Welsh businessman who was chairman of Swansea City football club between January 2002 and February 2019.

Early life

Jenkins was born and grew up in Jersey Marine, Wales.[1]

He was a youth goalkeeper for Afan Nedd Schools, Llandarcy and Afan Lido at the Welsh League level. He played in the youth systems of Bristol Rovers and Swansea and earned one Boys Club of Wales cap playing against Scotland, at 14.[2]

Swansea City

Jenkins was chairman, shareholder and chief executive of Swansea City A.F.C.. Being part of a consortium that "ousted" then-owner Tony Petty and with the backing of the Swansea City's Supporters Trust,[3] he was appointed chairman in January 2002, a position that he took, as he states, because, "I was the dullest one."[4]

During his chairmanship, the club's finances turned to profitable[4] and the club progressed on through to the Premier League. In 2013, Swansea City won the League Cup. It was the first time the League Cup had been won by a non-English club.

During the 2013–14 season, Jenkins sacked manager Michael Laudrup in February 2014 and replaced him with former player Garry Monk, stating, "we had to remove the constant uncertainty surrounding the club and Michael's long-term future with us."[5] Laudrup, in his first season with the club, had led Swansea to 9th place in the Premier League and to "League Cup glory, their first ever major trophy,"[6] while taking them to next season's Europa League campaign, a campaign crowned with a 3–0 away win over Spanish top-flight side Valencia in September 2013.[6] After his sacking, the club and Laudrup reached an out-of-court settlement whose details were not disclosed.[6]

In April 2016, a "controlling" portion of the club's shares were sold to American investors.[7] At the end of the 2017–18 season, the club was relegated to the second tier.[8]

On 2 February 2019, Jenkins resigned as chairman amid increasing criticism over the club's sale to the American consortium in 2016 and the club's subsequent relegation from the Premier League.[9] He stated, "...the current atmosphere within the football club on and off the football field saddens me very much and I find it very difficult to fight on in a football club I love but can no longer control."[9]

Charlton Athletic

Towards the end of May 2020, it was reported[10] that Jenkins was an interested party in buying Charlton Athletic F.C. after the club spent a turbulent few months under the ownership of East Street Investments[11] however this fell through and did not come to fruition.

Awards

In 2012, Jenkins was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LLD) by Swansea University, "in recognition of his lifelong contribution to football and for his role in taking the Swans through to the Premier League."[12]

On 13 June 2015 it was announced that Huw Jenkins had been appointed an OBE for services to Welsh football.

In November 2015, Huw won 'FC Business Football CEO of the Year' at the 4th annual Football Business Awards by the writers and editors of the FB Business magazine.

Notes
  1. "Huw Jenkins (Cool hand Jenks)", SwansFootball He has developed into a legendary man and honored by many. Rob Brayley has set up in 2014 an unverified religion based on Huw Jenkins. website
  2. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/university-honours-swansea-football-chairman-2656839
  3. Huw Jenkins Archived 2016-11-10 at the Wayback Machine, VitalSwanseaFans website
  4. "Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins took job because he was 'dull'", BBC News, 22 February 2013
  5. "Swansea sack Michael Laudrup and place Garry Monk in charge", BBC News, 4 February 2014
  6. "Michael Laudrup & Swansea City reach settlement over sacking", BBC News, 23 May 2014
  7. "Swansea City in talks with American investors by Dafydd Pritchard, BBC Sport, 11 April 2016
  8. "Sorry Swansea City lose their way to end Premier League stay" by Dafydd Pritchard, BBC Sport, 14 May 2018
  9. "Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins resigns". BBC Sport. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  10. "Charlton Athletic: Former Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins interested in buying Addicks". BBC Sport. 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  11. "Charlton Athletic: What is happening with the recent takeover?". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  12. "Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins to be granted honorary degree", Wales Online, 13 July 2012
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