Swansea City have confirmed the departure of Director of Football Richard Montague after just seven months in the role.
The club say the move follows an internal review of football operations and comes after a summer of significant change at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Montague Departs After Brief Tenure
Montague was appointed in February after leaving Notts County, where he had worked closely with then-head coach Luke Williams. He was described at the time as the “outstanding candidate” for the position, bringing with him a reputation for his use of data analytics and operational knowledge of the game.
EFL Cup
However, Williams was dismissed only days after Montague’s arrival, leaving him to oversee the process of appointing a new head coach. Caretaker Alan Sheehan was later confirmed as the permanent choice. This summer saw Swansea embark on their biggest spending spree since relegation from the Premier League in 2018, with 12 players brought in to strengthen the squad.
Restructure At The Top
Recruitment and strategy will now be led by Adam Worth, the club’s Global Head of Recruitment and Analytics, who has been credited by Sheehan for his role in shaping the squad. Chief executive Tom Gorringe will take charge of contract negotiations as part of the reshaped structure.
In a joint statement, co-owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen praised Montague’s efforts but underlined the need for long-term alignment:
“This was not a decision taken lightly, and we are extremely grateful for Richard’s work during a busy summer transfer window.
“However, it is vital that everyone at the club is aligned with our shared strategy. We are confident in the team we have in place, both on and off the pitch, to continue driving the club forward.”
Montague’s exit continues a turbulent trend at the club, with Swansea now having gone through five Directors of Football in just over six years. Previous figures to hold the position include Leon Britton, Mark Allen, Josh Marsh and Paul Watson.
Writer’s View
Frequent upheaval in senior football roles rarely helps long-term planning, and Swansea’s revolving door of Directors of Football underlines the instability behind the scenes. Montague’s departure, despite presiding over a record summer of spending, points to ongoing tensions about structure and direction.
With Sheehan still relatively new in his role and Worth now taking a leading hand in recruitment, the club must find a balance that can deliver stability if they are to progress in the Championship.
