51 years ago today - Swales became chairman

The ego and self-belief that everything he did was right for the club was his downfall and the Manchester City board members dared not speak out against him, We were a right mess and an Iron Fist of a chairman was running the ship

Swales was always a hands-on chairman and could never leave the football side of things to the football people. The Granda TV documentary CITY showed him in his full colours and also a fucking liar, What he said in the BBC video about not getting involved with the football part, But in the CITY doc he says am going down at half time to speak to the lads,

Swales should have stepped down long before the Swales Out and forward with Franny took over, For me he should have stepped down after Billy Mcneill left for the Villa job and we went down again in 1986, That was the last straw going down again and losing Billy Mcneill,

Billy Mcneill was building something and the youth side coming through and City needed Billy just like Fergie with the class of 1992 but Swales would not give him any money to buy 2 or 3 players and City would have been the team flying and winning silverware.

I am talking about 5 or 6 very good young city players that needed looking after and bringing them on into the first team but Swales fucked it all up by not backing Billy Mcneill,
 
Ian Niven told me personally that he had the deciding vote that forced Swales out.
Funny how many memories are buried in a shallow grave.

The Old Trafford derby was rearranged during the 1991-92 season but I was on holiday for the rescheduled date
However it was later rescheduled for a 2nd time, and desperate for a ticket, I asked my dad to have a word with Niven, (who was the landlord of the Royal Scot in Marple Bridge)

Dad was a Royal Scot regular and after giving him a ticket Niven responded:
"Don't tell anyone because I'm not supposed to do this"

I was chuffed but simultaneously appalled

That was City in a nutshell under Swales
 
Great footage of Maine Road and PJS outlines part of his grand financial vision although what actually happened with the souvenir shop seems to contradict his words...

 
It was 51 years ago today and was to change our club forever! I’ve posted the memorable video profile Swales did here in the 70s

I remember his penchant for pink fluffy carpets - a warning sign if ever there was one ;-)
 
Ian Niven told me Joe Mercer never achieved anything at City… l Not certain I’d trust his views. Oh and Swales was never actually voted out.
Yes. It all started from Niven’s views on Mercer, which were bonkers.
There’s plenty of talk currently about Trump’s narcissism. We finished up with two of them once Mal had returned. They were both convinced they knew better than everybody. Their brilliance was epitomised by the great value for money purchases we made.
 
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