Huw Jenkins has resigned as Swansea chairman after 17 years at the club, blaming a lack of 'control'.
The 55-year-old was once credited as a hero after overseeing Swansea's rise from the bottom of League Two to the Premier League following his arrival in 2002.
But his role in the unpopular 2016 takeover by a consortium led by US businessmen Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan has drawn enormous criticism in south Wales. He refused to resign in the wake of relegation last season and faced renewed calls to step down from the Supporters' Trust earlier on Saturday, ahead of defeat at Bristol City.
It followed another wretched transfer window in which the club failed to sign any new faces. Indeed, since relegation, 16 players have been sold or loaned out in return for only six arrivals, prompting the Trust, which owns 21.1 per cent of the club, to hit out on Saturday at the 'inept way the club appears to be run'.
Jenkins has been the public face of the hierarchy at the club and drawn much of the flak, having made a significant personal profit on the back of the sale of his shares in the takeover.
His exit follows tension on deadline day. He is understood to have opposed the sale of Daniel James to Leeds – a deal which ultimately fell through at the 11th hour.
In a statement, Jenkins said: 'It has taken me some time to finally come to this decision but the current atmosphere with in the club on and off the football field saddens me very much and I find it very difficult to fight on in a football club I love but can no longer control.'
He added: 'I have been very fortunate to fulfill my childhood dreams over the last 17 years or so providing direction and leadership at the club whilst moving through the football leagues and competing with the elite of British football in the Premier league for seven seasons.
'Gradually over the last few seasons my role as chairman providing such leadership and direction has been eroded away.
'Finally I can sit back no longer and hide behind my position and stay true to myself and my beliefs.'
Jenkins arrived in 2002 with the club facing extinction, ahead of a rise that included promotion to the Premier League in 2011 and a League Cup win in 2013. He was also credited with the appointments of Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup.
Jenkins said: 'To have lead our football club through the greatest period in the clubs history has been a fantastic experience.
'The atmosphere that we created within the club was without a doubt one of the key factors to our success over many years.
'The directors and staff that worked with me over the last 17 years supported me with total trust and loyalty and we all shared a true Love for Swansea City and we operated like true supporters to run the club from top to bottom.'
lehabkpsuy
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Levien and Kaplan can go to hell
Dennismelton
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It's not Bristol, it's Bristol City
Jeremye
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I don't buy the whole nonsense spouted by some of the fans that he sold his soul etc, or he sold them out..... The club needed investment to take it to the next level, the Americans came with big promises and ambitious plans and he bought into it..... Sadly it hasn't worked out the way anyone at the club would have wanted , it happens in football. But for all the negative comments the guy did so much for the club when it was on its knees, deserves more plaudits not back stabbing and petty comments
Polaroid
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A failed business man more than once!
sunny21
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They should build a bloody statue of him outside The Liberty
Omaha
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I said get Nijinsky Jenkins out of our club last season. Over stayed you welcome and welcome your not. If we don't keep protests up and get playboy Morgans and Yanks out we will be going again round with collection buckets again.
Codilra
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The old bill at Bristol today could run the club better lol because they were just as organised. HJ as well as his cronies have ripped the heart out of the club. How can you keep selling your best players buying cheap knock offs hoping they find another michu he was a one off. ......balance the books ??? We have to sell to bring in new players what yan dhanda and Joel Asoro to name a few... All the jacks know it¿s going back to the yanks and DC United
FCBmessi
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Shouldnt have sold it then.
gangsta
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The only thing wrong with this is that it took him so long to do the right thing. Now we need the owners to sell up and get out before they completely destroy our club.
gentlem
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He sold to American owners purely for his own financial gain. He leaves like a rat leaving a sinking ship, to count his cash in his ivory towers. Once a Hero, now less than Zero... let's hope the Americans follow him out of the door! RIP Swansea City.
Pogbalove
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It's not the amount he sold for, it's WHO he sold to. We have gone from a community club to a cancerous club, and HJ and his directors are firmly to blame!
oldesthle
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He.sold to Levien and Kaplan knowing it would not be in the best interest of the club, that's why the deal was kept secret for as long as possible.
Cooper5
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Sad thing is HJ will not be remembered for saving the Swans in 2002, and being at the helm through the journey to the Premier League. All that's eroded,after selling his shares to the Americans.