Huw Jenkins (Welsh businessman)

Huw Jenkins OBE (born 9 March 1963[1]) is a Welsh businessman principally known for being chairman of football club Swansea City, currently playing in the Premier League.

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]

He's a lifelong Swansea fan, recalling being taken by his father, Gordon Jenkins, to watch Swansea play Cardiff at Ninian Park as a boy.[3] "We’d park away from the ground, and sneak in to see the game," he said in an interview, because "it was quite hostile if you were supporting Swansea."[3]

Swansea City

Jenkins is chairman, shareholder and chief executive of Swansea City A.F.C. [3]

Being part of a consortium that "ousted" then-owner Tony Petty and with the backing of the Swansea City's Supporters Trust,[4] he was appointed chairman in January 2002, a position that he took, as he states, because, "I was the dullest one."[5]

During his chairmanship, the club's finances turned to profitable[5] 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."[6] Laudrup, in his first season with the club, had led Swansea to 9th place in the Premier League and to "League Cup glory, their ever first major trophy,"[7] 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.[7] Subsequently, the club and Laudrup, reached an out-of-court settlement whose details were not disclosed.[7]

Awards

In 2012, Jenkins was awarded a 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."[8]

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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "Huw Jenkins: 'If you bring in £80, then don't spend £100'.", The Daily Mail, 22 February 2013
  3. 1 2 3 "We own our club and other fans would love to do that, says Swansea chief Jenkins", The Daily Mail, 2 November 2013
  4. ↑ Huw Jenkins, VitalSwanseaFans website
  5. 1 2 "Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins took job because he was 'dull'", BBC News, 22 February 2013
  6. ↑ "Swansea sack Michael Laudrup and place Garry Monk in charge", BBC News, 4 February 2014
  7. 1 2 3 "Michael Laudrup & Swansea City reach settlement over sacking", BBC News, 23 May 2014
  8. ↑ "Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins to be granted honorary degree", Wales Online, 13 July 2012
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