Thanks for the memories Nathan

The club finally confirmed Nathan Dyer would be departing Swansea City yesterday in a somewhat bizarre way in Steve Cooper’s press conference thus officially ending a long time connection between the club and player that really deserved just a little bit better official communication.

Cooper said that “Nathan’s still training with us on a daily basis. He is looking for another club. He will tell you that as well,” when asked about the position regards the winger.

We all knew that Dyer’s contract had expired at the end of last season and whilst Naughton and Routledge were given new deals there was no communication on Dyer with some rumours and sources suggesting that he was about to be offered a new deal.

And after eleven years with the club (putting to one side his loan at Leicester that saw him pick up a Premier League winners medal) you would have assumed he would have deserved more than what now feels like a passing mention in a conference speaking about the build up to the weekend clash with Birmingham.

With more than 325 appearances for the club and over 30 goals, Dyer’s name will long be associated with Swansea City and it could be classed as somewhat of a surprise that he hasn’t been offered a new deal given the one that was given to Routledge especially when you consider Cooper’s additional comments of “To still have him around is a real benefit and he’s very helpful to the young players. He’s even happy to train with the Under-23s.

“He’s just a naturally giving guy in terms of what he can offer. So Nathan’s still very visible around the training ground, and that’ll be for as long as he wants to be.

“He’ll always be welcome here. I reminded the squad, the ones who have been here a while, and even the new boys, about Nathan’s contribution in terms of his appearances and his successes as an individual because, as a lot of you know, he’s an excellent role model, but he’s been a winner.”

🗣️ On Nathan Dyer…

"Nathan is still training with us on a daily basis. He is looking for another club but he will always be welcome here.

"He is very helpful to the younger players and he is a naturally giving guy in terms of what he can offer."

— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) September 17, 2020

Dyer’s appearances have been limited in the two years since relegation – just 36 in the two seasons – but given the young nature of the squad I think more expected his experience to be rewarded with another year rather than this confirmation that he can move on.

I certainly hope that Nathan can find himself a new club before too much longer.  He will leave Swansea with many memories of a great era for the club and he was one of the shining stars of our rise in the Championship and into the Premier League.  And that is not forgetting his two goals at Wembley in the League Cup final and that little ‘spat’ with Jonathan de Guzman over the penalty which could have left him the only player to score a hat-trick in that particular final.

Of course this is not the first time the club have let players go without what feels an appropriate send off.  Roger Freestone departed the Swans in 2004 with barely a word at the end of his time at the Vetch let go by Kenny Jackett amid rumours that Jackett let people go who he saw as a potential threat to his authority.

And we never forget that bizarre press conference after Francesco Guidolin was sacked when he turned up as the club revealed Bob Bradley as the new manager back in 2016.

I have often said that the club needs to respect its past and it has been one thing that during my time on the Trust we tried to get the club to appreciate more with pictures, names and memorabilia at the ground but official confirmation as part of a routine press conference still feels that those lessons aren’t always learned.

That aside it is a thank you for the memories Nathan, there will always be a place in Swansea for you as a Jack and good luck for your future.