| Petty breaks his silence 09:47 - Sep 7 with 7849 views | epaul |
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tony-petty-macclesfiel
Tony Petty: Why Macclesfield defeat showed me I had to hand Swansea City back to the supporters
Sep 07, 2014 07:00 By Chris Wathan 0 Comments
Petty has broken his silence on his controversial time in charge of the Swans, a dark period in the club’s history that had many fearing for its future
72 Shares
Share
Tweet
+1
Email
Tony Petty
The man who united a city as they reclaimed their club has spoken for the first time about the moment it was time to hand Swansea City back to its supporters.
And he claims it was a dreary December day in Macclesfield that he realised he could not stop the fans’ fight to end his controversial reign — and set the club on the path to the Premier League.
Tony Petty has broken his silence on his controversial time in charge of the Swans, a dark period in the club’s history that had many fearing for its future and mobilised loyal fans into action.
Having bought the-then lowly Swans for £1, the outspoken Australian-based businessman had outraged large sections of support by extreme cost-cutting measures — including attempts to sack six players — amidst various allegations of his running of the club.
Now, in a new feature-length film documenting the club’s incredible rags to riches story, Petty has revealed how the intimidation from some fans finally got to him and persuaded him to sell-up to a supporter-based consortium — the same group of businessmen fans that run the club today to great acclaim.
And the vilified former owner explains how FA Cup defeat to Macclesfield was the turning point as he realised there would be no bumper third-round gate to try and turn around the club’s finances on his own.
In the exclusive interview in the Jack to a King film, which is released this Friday, Petty claims he was let down by fellow businessmen when he bought the club leaving him with no cash to invest.
Public enemy No.1 in Swansea at the time, Petty reveals: “I was down in Brisbane and it was common knowledge at that time that Swansea had changed ownership. I rang up (then Swansea chief executive) Mike Lewis and he was very open. It wasn’t good. I had a chat with one of the wealthiest clubs in Queensland with a view to rescuing Swansea."
Petty continued: “I flew over to Swansea with the chairman of the Brisbane Lions and they were going to put the money in.
“Mike knew he couldn’t carry on. If we hadn’t appeared then he probably had one month or two at best before he would have gone under. That’s how bad it was.
“Unfortunately for me those guys flew back to Australia and somewhere down the line within the next week or two they decided to change their mind and it left me pretty much holding a baby.
“By that time Mike had relinquished power and I was there without the money.”
That saw Petty try to axe key players and fail to convince supporters he was not overseeing the death of the proud Vetch Field club.
Protests and pleas for him to sell-up had so far fallen on deaf ears before a FA Cup Second Round game at Moss Rose.
Having beaten QPR in an emotionally-charged game the previous round, victory could have brought cash into the coffers that could well have bought Petty time and scuppered fans hopes of the consortium — including former player Mel Nurse — winning the day.
But Petty reveals: “One match turned everything and that was the next round of the FA Cup (Macclesfield). That was it. That was the end.
“I thought at worst we would get a draw and we lost 4-1. The FA Cup had gone and we needed money. End of story.”
Within a month, fans had rallied to pay-off Petty and strike a £1 deal to buy the club in a Cardiff hotel with the Londoner effectively run out of town.
Petty claimed: “There was house bricks being thrown at many a car — mainly looking for my car.
“The intimidation was getting to me.
“I remember driving back and saying, ‘That’s it.’
“I thought there is only one buyer in town whether they are offering a pound or whatever.
“If they wanted to have a go, so be it. I can’t do no more.”
The fans did have a go as the takeover went through in January, with the Supporters Trust that gained huge numbers in protest of Petty gaining a place on the board that they still hold today.
With Huw Jenkins eventually installed as chairman, the Swans stopped the bleeding and — after dramatically avoiding relegation from the Football League the following season — began their rise up the divisions that has seen them reach the top-flight, win a first major English trophy, compete in Europe and head into a table-topping Premier League clash with Chelsea next weekend.
The film, which has its London premiere in Leicester Square 24 hours before the Stamford Bridge fixture, also reveals how Jenkins turned down the chance of playing for the Swans as a up-and-coming goalkeeper — because he wanted to watch the game with his mates on the Vetch’s North Bank.
Jenkins said: “I did train with the Swans and play a couple of times. Then I had the chance to sign for them.
“But I decided I’m not going to sign and I’m going to go around to the North Bank and meet my mates and have a day out watching the Swans.”
One of those mates included Martin Morgan, the businessman who would later be involved in the buy-out to oust Petty.
And the rest, as this fascinating film reveals, is history. |  |
| The hair and the beard have gone I am now conforming to society, tis a sad day
The b*stards are coming back though |
| |  |
| Petty breaks his silence on 11:18 - Sep 7 with 2033 views | ScoobyWho |
| Petty breaks his silence on 11:11 - Sep 7 by Dr_Winston |
My old man was working as a steward at the time. I'd planned to meet him in the Centre Stand foyer after the game and managed to sneak my way around before the police cordon blocked it all off.
Petty spent about an hour sfter the game hiding in one of the conference rooms and I've never seen a human being look so terrified. Basically telling plod to lie to the fans gathered outside and tell them that he'd already left.  |
He is right about Macclesfield though. Speaking to a jack who was there, he was so close to getting The hiding of his life that day, only pure luck got him away from the ground. |  |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 11:22 - Sep 7 with 2024 views | Dr_Winston |
| Petty breaks his silence on 11:18 - Sep 7 by ScoobyWho |
He is right about Macclesfield though. Speaking to a jack who was there, he was so close to getting The hiding of his life that day, only pure luck got him away from the ground. |
Ugly times. |  |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 15:33 - Sep 7 with 1855 views | canhecatchit |
I seem to remember a figure of £6000 paid by Mel Nurse and thats what they bought it off him for |  |
| Swansea City, my one and only love , oh and then there's the Wife |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 18:11 - Sep 7 with 1748 views | Newhousemustscore |
Didn't mike Lewis get a slap at the rushden game? I wonder if petty will mention how he sold the pitch covers to protect the pitch from ice and then pocketed the money. He made a lot more than the £20,000. |  | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 18:34 - Sep 7 with 1718 views | Catullus |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:26 - Sep 7 by owainglyndwr |
Do you remember the Rushden & Diamonds game when thousands lined the pitch ready to invade to attack Petty and force him out.
Rushden fans must of sh@t themselves wondering what was happening with the fans up to the touch line |
It wasn't really thousands, come on, don't exaggerate!
He got a hard time, deservedly so. Lucky mot to be hospitalised. | |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 18:39 - Sep 7 with 1704 views | Joe_bradshaw |
| Petty breaks his silence on 11:15 - Sep 7 by Darran |
Is John Shuttleworth in the film too?
Wasn't he in the porn industry? |
Allegedly very big down under. |  |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 18:44 - Sep 7 with 1690 views | Joe_bradshaw |
| Petty breaks his silence on 11:02 - Sep 7 by crackerjack |
I have to say that was the most surreal game I've ever been to. The bristling anger on the NB was palpable. |
The bristling anger in the normally somnambulant centre stand was astonishing. | |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 19:17 - Sep 7 with 1634 views | ScoobyWho |
| Petty breaks his silence on 18:11 - Sep 7 by Newhousemustscore |
Didn't mike Lewis get a slap at the rushden game? I wonder if petty will mention how he sold the pitch covers to protect the pitch from ice and then pocketed the money. He made a lot more than the £20,000. |
Of course he did, he also kept the FA cup sky money from the game v QPR and the Stu Roberts money I'm told.
He got off lightly, but many have long memories I'm sure.
Will he be at the premiere in London ?
Is he that stupid ? [Post edited 7 Sep 2014 19:18]
| |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:05 - Sep 7 with 1561 views | Dewi1jack |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:55 - Sep 7 by JackoBoostardo |
yup.... He's still a c*nt. |
Yep
Born a c*nt, was a c*nt when he was at our club, is still a c*nt now and will die a c*nt.
C*nt shows no ambition in wanting to better himself in life really. |  |
| If you wake up breathing, thats a good start to your day and you'll make many thousands of people envious. |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:11 - Sep 7 with 1548 views | Uxbridge |
| Petty breaks his silence on 18:34 - Sep 7 by Catullus |
It wasn't really thousands, come on, don't exaggerate!
He got a hard time, deservedly so. Lucky mot to be hospitalised. |
Not sure about that. It was like the charge of the light brigade across the pitch at the final whistle. The game didn't matter and most people were watching everything bar the action. Incredible occasion.
Rushden will always have a small place in my heart for their supporters bus travelling behind the centre stand after the game to give their support. |  |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:15 - Sep 7 with 1544 views | waynekerr55 |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:05 - Sep 7 by blaine_scfc |
He was a decent keeper by all accounts. |
He still owes the WWFA £5 for a yellow card. Have a look in the hand book  |  |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:35 - Sep 7 with 1500 views | Sandfieldshellsangel |
| Petty breaks his silence on 18:44 - Sep 7 by Joe_bradshaw |
The bristling anger in the normally somnambulant centre stand was astonishing. |
Remember that , astounding justified hatred from centre stand fans I normally stood on the north bank but my late father in law had a spare seat next to him I had never seen him like that before he had supported since he was a kid and he was in his 70s that night the passion from him and normal fans around him in the centre stand was astounding and you could feel then that it was ther club he was screwing up. |  |
| :Til I Die,and Beyond.
Oi !! It's A Way Of Life. |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:41 - Sep 7 with 1483 views | Highjack |
| Petty breaks his silence on 10:57 - Sep 7 by max936 |
Agreed, he'll want to come down to a home game and walkout onto the centre circle next, he'll never get out alive. |
They should invite him, would be good for a laugh, although most people there now won't have a fuc king clue who he is and give him a standing ovation. |  |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:42 - Sep 7 with 1476 views | Highjack |
| Petty breaks his silence on 18:11 - Sep 7 by Newhousemustscore |
Didn't mike Lewis get a slap at the rushden game? I wonder if petty will mention how he sold the pitch covers to protect the pitch from ice and then pocketed the money. He made a lot more than the £20,000. |
Yeah he decided to go into the Harry Griffiths bar before the game.
what a lard arse. | |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:46 - Sep 7 with 1467 views | Uxbridge |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:42 - Sep 7 by Highjack |
Yeah he decided to go into the Harry Griffiths bar before the game.
what a lard arse. |
He's still around the area remarkably. Braver man than I. | |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:49 - Sep 7 with 1429 views | Dr_Winston |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:46 - Sep 7 by Uxbridge |
He's still around the area remarkably. Braver man than I. |
Knowing that he bought for a pound and sold for not much more something now worth tens of millions of them is probably punishment enough. | |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:51 - Sep 7 with 1419 views | Darran |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:49 - Sep 7 by Dr_Winston |
Knowing that he bought for a pound and sold for not much more something now worth tens of millions of them is probably punishment enough. |
Petty had promised him money too they found the contract in one of the drawers they had to bust open in the office. |  |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:54 - Sep 7 with 1403 views | Highjack |
Remember Real Radio did an interview with Mike "Lard Arse" Lewis when he had a book out and was completely supportive of him? Someone who phoned in mentioned his fraud conviction when he was at Exeter and they cut him off. "Lard Arse" then went on to say he wasn't convicted of fraud and was found not guilty and Real Radio didn't push him on the issue (Even though he was convicted of fraudulent trading). Never listened to that station again. | |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:58 - Sep 7 with 1393 views | Phil_S |
Notice they have switched the comments off on his name
The Stupid fat arse |  | | |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:58 - Sep 7 with 1391 views | Dr_Winston |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:54 - Sep 7 by Highjack |
Remember Real Radio did an interview with Mike "Lard Arse" Lewis when he had a book out and was completely supportive of him? Someone who phoned in mentioned his fraud conviction when he was at Exeter and they cut him off. "Lard Arse" then went on to say he wasn't convicted of fraud and was found not guilty and Real Radio didn't push him on the issue (Even though he was convicted of fraudulent trading). Never listened to that station again. |
Is real radio still a thing? | |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 21:00 - Sep 7 with 1381 views | Uxbridge |
Regularly see him in and around Gorseinon. That's punishment enough for any man in fairness. | |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 21:01 - Sep 7 with 1380 views | exiledclaseboy |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:58 - Sep 7 by Dr_Winston |
Is real radio still a thing? |
Yes and no. It's called Heart now but it's the same company. |  |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 21:04 - Sep 7 with 1353 views | ScoobyWho |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:58 - Sep 7 by Phil_S |
Notice they have switched the comments off on his name
The Stupid fat arse |
I thought the cu nt was dead. | |
| |
| Petty breaks his silence on 21:05 - Sep 7 with 1351 views | Dr_Winston |
| Petty breaks his silence on 20:51 - Sep 7 by Darran |
Petty had promised him money too they found the contract in one of the drawers they had to bust open in the office. |
No doubt there were arrangements between the pair.
I just find it highly amusing that something they hastily got shot of for thirty pieces of silver is now worth so much. I suspect that the thought has crossed their minds more than a couple of times since 2011. | |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
