Swansea City is pleased to announce the appointment of Trevor Birch as the club’s new chairman.

Trevor will take up his position in April and will be in complete day-to-day control of all football and business matters, reporting directly to majority owners, Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien.

Trevor has previously held the role of chief executive at Chelsea, Everton, Leeds United, Sheffield United and Derby County and has an outstanding network of contacts in the football industry.

Steve and Jason said: "Trevor’s track record in the game speaks for itself. He has the experience we need and a business reputation that is second to none. Quite frankly, he is one of the finest football executives currently in the game and will bring a new dimension to Swansea City.

"Trevor will obviously be instrumental in strengthening the business side of the club but will also work very closely with Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay on the football front and especially in terms of recruitment.

"His experience allied to Graham and Kyle's vision for the way they want to build the club on the pitch is an exciting opportunity and we believe they will work superbly together.

"We made it clear in the statement last month that the club had to press the reset button to some extent. Trevor's arrival allows us to do that."

Trevor said: “I understand a lot of the problems the club has faced, especially after relegation. This job is about re-balancing a football club and getting stability back both in the boardroom and on the pitch, as well as working with the Trust to ensure we're all moving in the same direction. It is a great opportunity to build something long-term at Swansea.

"At heart, I'm a football man. I've played professionally and been involved with clubs as chief executive and while I may have taken time away to build another career, I think I understand and have empathy with what the traditions of a football club should be.

"Perhaps this is a return to basics for Swansea, a club with a strong belief in its culture, that was run lean and mean and building a fantastic reputation for the football it played. I think under Graham, there is a real determination to return to that philosophy on the pitch.

"I want to help him and his team in every way possible by working with the rest of the staff behind the scenes to build something of substance that can help support that ambition."