Jenkins explains Wigan saga

11 June 2009 19:46
Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins says the club want compensation from Wigan before agreeing to release their coaching staff. Wigan were forced to cancel a press conference on Thursday after plans to unveil Roberto Martinez as their new manager were foiled. Forms agreeing the release of the Swansea boss were left unsigned at the Liberty Stadium after Jenkins brought about a new twist in the saga. The Swans chairman says he wants compensation for assistant manager Graeme Jones and chief scout Kevin Reeves before any agreement goes ahead. Martinez confirmed his desire to take both Jones and Reeves with him to Wigan, but Jenkins feels Swansea should get something back in return. "I think it's important that our supporters are kept fully aware of the situation surrounding Roberto and our backroom staff," read a statement on the club's official website. "As everyone is already aware, we reluctantly agreed compensation with Wigan for Roberto a week ago after taking into account his wish to leave Swansea City. "This compensation figure was only in regards to the loss of Roberto. "We were asked at 10:45am this morning (Thursday) to waive our right to compensation for Graeme Jones and Kevin Reeves until next week. "We felt this was not the right thing for us to do as a club and we owed it to our fans to remain in a position of strength." He added: "To lose our manager is bad enough, but to think we would also lose our assistant manager and chief scout for nothing in the same compensation agreement is unfair and disrespectful to our football club and our fans. "I don't want to have any bad relations with Wigan Football Club, even though the loss of our manager and possibly some of our backroom staff has clearly ripped the heart out of our football club with regards to what we have achieved in the last two and a half years."

Source: SKY_Sports