revolving door - OUT
by sandman slim
We’re waving goodbye to a number of this season’s captures already, which tells you all you need to know about last summer’s rebuild! Here’s Sandman Slim again to guide us through the major January departures…
Swanning Off
Position: Winger
Deal: Contract expired
In a Nutshell: Free spirited veteran
The Skinny: A free agent capture in the dying stages of Michael Duff’s dugout days, Bolasie joined on a very short term deal to provide some pace a creativity until the winter window opened.
He brought a bit of fresh air to the club with his engaging personality and constant smile but a record of zero goals and zero assists in his 11 appearances tells its own story. The free spirit was willing but the body was weak.
Age and injuries coupled with a long lack of competitive football had taken their toll and Bolasie looked more suited to a retirement home than a place on the Swans’ subs bench.
New gaffer Luke Williams made disappointing noises as the player decided to move on instead of signing a further deal, but in reality with three new wingers coming in there was no place for an expensive has been – no matter how wide his smile is.
Good bloke though so I wish him good luck with whatever comes next for him.
Position: Centre Half
Deal: 
Undisclosed Fee Klaxon Sold to Leyton Orient
In a Nutshell: Long serving stopper who never really got a chance
The Skinny: It’s finally Brand-OFF Cooper as the strapping centre half’s time at the Swans comes to a permanent end. Having been on loan at Leyton orient for the first half of the season the O’s made the arrangement a permanent one, finally providing Cooper with the opportunity to settle down and forge a senior career.
Cooper came to the club as a 6 year old and made his way through the youth set-up; but although he was highly rated, the now 24 year old could never quite make the breakthrough at senior level.
Successful but injury hit loan spells at Yeovil and Newport demonstrated that there was a professional player there, but less productive loans at Swindon and Forest Green appear to have sealed Cooper’s fate at the Swans.
With a number of centre halves ahead of him in the pecking order the club have decided to cash in and the player has decided to start making the most of a career that has seen him make just 11 senior appearances for the Swans.
Not quite Championship quality but it would be worth backing Cooper to flourish at League One level with the O’s.
Position: Defender
Deal: Loaned to Sheffield Wednesday
In a Nutshell: Disappearing Danish Destroyer
The Skinny: Vastly experienced defender Pedersen was picked up on a free from Cologne late in the summer transfer window.
On paper it looked a good piece of business -a player that would bring some power and physicality to the back line, and with over 160 Championship appearances for Birmingham City he’d bring some much needed experience too.
A couple of rusty appearances later and Pedersen…just…disappeared! There was a slight injury and then he dropped off the radar entirely.
Ped popped back up late on Transfer Deadline Day long enough to seal a loan move to the struggling Owls until the end of the season.
It remains to be seen whether there is a place for him in Luke Williams’ squad next season but it seems unlikely and the more likely scenario is a release to get his bumper salary off the wage bill.
This Dane proved to be anything but great and a permanent parting of the ways seems inevitable.
Position: Left Back
Deal: Loaned to Heerenveen
In a Nutshell: Just a name on the back of a shirt
The Skinny: If Kristian Pedersen vanished not long after arriving, Tjoe-A-On never actually appeared in the first place. In fact it’s only due to the testimony of some of the U21s followers that we are convinced that the guy exists and isn’t some weird football version of Keyser Soze.
I’m not sure what’s more ridiculous – this lad’s surname, which is basically just an unsolveable anagram, or the fact we paid £350k for him in the summer at a time when we needed every penny for urgent first team ready players. Especially in that left back berth.
Having never clapped eyes on him I couldn’t even begin to tell you whether he might have what it takes or looks suitable for a Luke Williams team.
All I can tell you is that he’s now been shipped out to Heerenveen back in his native Dutch league, in order to “get valuable game time and continue his development”.
Fingers crossed he does just that and can either make a contribution next season or we can ship him out permanently without a significant loss.
Position: Left Back
Deal: Loaned to Bolton Wanderers
In a Nutshell: Schrodinger’s Nat
The Skinny: If Schrodinger experimented with Nat rather than a cat he’d place him in a Swans shirt and leave him in Fairwood, and Swans fans wouldn’t know whether he was dead, alive or dead and alive at the same time.
Apparently, Nat’s Wandered off to Bolton for a bit on a loan deal but that’s just according to the press release.
The former Man City prospect has impressed on a previous loan spell with Peterborough but has still yet to make a start for the Swans since signing on in January ’22.
Who knows, when he returns to South Wales he may get a start and prove his existence…it isbn’t as if he’s got any more visible competiton for that cursed left back spot!
