December 30 – Bob Bradley, the former US national team coach sacked by Swansea City after only 85 days in charge, says he could have made a success of being the first American to manage an English Premier League side if he had been given more time by his fellow Americans who appointed him in the first place.
Swansea is majority owned by Americans Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien who went for Bradley to turn around the club’s fortunes, only for him to be shown the door after just 11 games. The club are struggling to find a replacement with both Ryan Giggs and Chris Coleman having reportedly turned down stepping into the role left by Bradley.
“I don’t think it’s the correct decision,” Bradley told Talksport. “I believe in my work and I certainly knew that I was going into a difficult situation and I also understand that when you go in the clock’s already ticking, so it’s not like you’re expecting all sorts of time.
Bradley struggled to adapt to the tough nature of the Premier League but added: “The discussions we had always included the work that needed to be done in January – we had talked about players. I’m frustrated because I feel like every place I’ve been, I’ve been able to put my stamp on the team in terms of the mentality and the tactics.”
“I think they [the club board] need to realise that the work was good and even though the results haven’t been what we would have wanted, turning around a team at the bottom of the table and low on confidence is one of the most difficult things you can do as a manager.
“In the whole time that I’ve been here I have never made excuses, I’ve never thrown a player under the bus – I’ve taken responsibility because I believe that’s how you lead.”
Bradley also pointed to turmoil off the field, most likely relating to tension created by the fact that Swansea’s Supporters Trust were not informed by Levien and Kaplan of their intention to appoint him.
Uniquely in the English top flight, Swansea have a fans’ representative – Huw Cooze – on the board. However, having spoken to various candidates, the owners reportedly did not notify Cooze of their decision to appoint Bradley as successor to Francesco Guidolin.
“Not informing him sooner as to our ultimate choice was an error on our part and one for which we take full responsibility,” Levien and Kaplan wrote in the match programme against Watford shortly after Bradley joined in October.
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