Peter Swales

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What an appropriate time to reflect upon a man who is welded into our club's history.

If Harry Enfield was creating a character who ran a dysfunctional football club it is difficult to imagine him conceiving of a more absurd creation than Peter Swales. The comb-over, the Cuban Heels, the endless sackings and his Captain Ahab style pursuit of united all lend themselves to high comedy. It's just a shame that we had to endure the end product, the legacy of which we never really shook off until September 1st 2008.

Success in life is usually about recognising when your big opportunity has arrived and grabbing it with both hands and that is what Swales did when he took control of the club. I'm sure he loved us in his own way; like an abusive husband 'loves' the wife he beats every night. He mismanaged the club from top to bottom; the questionable attendance figures and the shameful treatment of Paul Lake are stand out examples of this. He was the living embodiment of a club that was transformed from a powerhouse to national joke on his watch.

I wonder what he would have made of the events of this week. He would have stood next to me in the Plaza Mayor and looked upon with mild amusement at the choir of Mary D's, many of whom were barely out of nappies when he departed this world, singing about doing something unpleasant to Lou Macari, and concluded that in an ever changing world, certain things endure for a reason. Or he could have stood among the City fans at the game, who did themselves so proud, and felt pleased for them, up to a point. The most overriding emotion he would have felt, however, was disappointment. Crushing disappointment at the sea of money now washing around the game. Not because he would have felt the game had lost its soul or that ticket prices were now beyond the reach of many traditional supporters, but disappointment for himself that he missed out on the bonanza when it came along.

ehehe

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I was never that keen on Swales, and looking back at the documentary (filmed in 1981) when I was there watching those games it makes you cringe at times, although I'm not a hater and don't wish ill on anyone, but he was never that popular. Compared to what's going on at some other clubs though, for example Blackburn & Leeds, we didn't have it that bad.

as they say "all's well that ends well"

for this, and where we are now, for better or for worse, our club has its history and its characters, and it's all part and parcel of what we are and where we are.

I'd not change any of it, would you?

Exactly this. Too busy looking forwards, than looking backwards

 

[baildon blue]

Peter Swales was chairman for a long time and wasn't always hated. IMO he hung around too long and should have stepped down years before he was pushed.

Yeah i would say up to the early 80s he wasnt hated.He started becoming unpopular when he sold trevor francis

He became deeply unpopular once he bought the club on the cheap. When he arrived, he had a used tv shop. When he left he was rich. He made millions out of running City into the dirt.

Utter shithouse.

Yeah he didnt live long enough to enjoy his money.He should have quit when he sacked mel machin

 

[Healthcare29]

Listened to a classic quote from Malcolm Allison today talking about what Swales said to him in 79 'Just concentrate on the Football, I'm the financial genius'

 

[ancoats]

the chairman that sacked joe mercer and replaced him with his wing man malcolm allison

a control freak and wanted to be manager really and would never let the manager's do their job and get of with the football side of things. and always had the say on players we signed and it was his way or the highway. the CITY documentary by granada shows swales at his best

 

[Gingers Dad]

ehehe

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I was never that keen on Swales, and looking back at the documentary (filmed in 1981) when I was there watching those games it makes you cringe at times, although I'm not a hater and don't wish ill on anyone, but he was never that popular. Compared to what's going on at some other clubs though, for example Blackburn & Leeds, we didn't have it that bad.

as they say "all's well that ends well"

for this, and where we are now, for better or for worse, our club has its history and its characters, and it's all part and parcel of what we are and where we are.

I'd not change any of it, would you?

I'd change it all and I don't believe anyone that says differently

 

[DRINKLEVEDRY]

the chairman that sacked joe mercer and replaced him with his wing man malcolm allison

a control freak and wanted to be manager really and would never let the manager's do their job and get of with the football side of things. and always had the say on players we signed and it was his way or the highway. the CITY documentary by granada shows swales at his best

Made me sad that mate,forgot my old mate Noel Bradley rip was in that.

 

[ancoats]

Made me sad that mate,forgot my old mate Noel Bradley rip was in that.

great memorises in hard times at city and tears of the old girl (maine road) the kippax was amazing down that wing and when in full voice must have been the the greatest buzz a city player could have had when the crowd would be singing your name

but the documentary shows just how bad swales was as chairman and the power at the club he had over everybody. even in the first game vs liverpool at halftime your heard him say am going down ?? it was he was going into the dressing room to kick some arse ? truly the worst thing any manager will say is if the chairman gets involved at the football side of the team ??

swales was a control freak and never would let any manager just do his job at the club. and it would be him signing players and asking the manager what about this player or that player. and also in the first minutes of the documentary swales was quoted at spending £8 million on players ??

that was like £400million in todays transfer market. and people still think manchester city was a little club back then. but the truth was manchester cit ywas never a small club. it was a big club being run very badly by swales and the board that made us look little

 

[BillCarlisle]

Ken Barnes told some great stories about Swales in his autobiography. He had no time for the man. Beaky's office at Maine Road when he was chief scout was a holy of holies, and entrance was by invitation only. One day when Beaky & Denis Law were in there drinking tea & smoking fags, Swales puts his head around the door. Barnes shouts at him " You can fuck off, you know fuck all about football ! ". Brilliant.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Ken Barnes told some great stories about Swales in his autobiography. He had no time for the man. Beaky's office at Maine Road when he was chief scout was a holy of holies, and entrance was by invitation only. One day when Beaky & Denis Law were in there drinking tea & smoking fags, Swales puts his head around the door. Barnes shouts at him " You can fuck off, you know fuck all about football ! ". Brilliant.

Yes it was a great book by Jimmy Wagg - Ken recalls the time that Swales told him not to spend as much money on tea, milk and sugar as money was tight. He told Swales where to go....like how he was making tea for parents of future players that would save the club buying players or Swales would flog.... He told Swales instead to stop giving hangers on and his pals free alcoholic drinks in the chairman's lounge - people who contributed nothing to the club

 

[Stevieatlasblue]

Couldn't stand the guy. He made city a laughing stock. Watch the City documentary that's how he ran it. Very amateurish just like the board. SWALES OUT!