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The BBC have announced that Swansea City’s Andy Robinson is joining Leeds United. Andy Robinson was virtually an ever-present in the Swansea City midfield and scored an impressive ten goals during the 2007-08 season.

Swansea City’s official website has released the following club statement:

“Swansea City FC are disappointed with the news today that Andy Robinson is to sign for Leeds United.

Andy, whose contract with the Club expires on 30th June, has invoked his right as a free agent to move onto pastures new. Andy asked the Club to wait until after Sunday’s League One play off final for a final decision on whether he would accept our current offer to extend his contract, but the Club felt this an unrealistic request and imposed a deadline of yesterday for Andy to make his mind up. This he did, subsequently deciding to move on.

Andy leaves Swansea City with our hearfelt best wishes and with many thanks for his service to the Club and the committment shown by him over the years that he has been at the Club.

Negotiations between the Club and Andy over a new contract began last October/November with a view to agreeing terms before the January transfer window opened. Unfortunately, despite our best endeavours, no common ground was reached. At that point, it was decided not to place Andy on the transfer list as we felt he had a great part to play in our quest for promotion. The prospect of achieving that promotion with Andy as part of the squad far outweighed any financial gain we may have realised should Andy have moved on at that point. It was also felt that having gained promotion, it would be enough to further secure Andy’s services.

Negotiations have been ongoing and the latest offer, had it been accepted, would have made Andy one of the highest paid players in the History of Swansea City FC. This Club believes we should set a realistic wage structure without diluting our ambitions to take the Club to the very highest level of football.

The plan this summer was to keep every player who played a part in our promotion success and to build on that by further strengthening the squad. To that end, Roberto Martinez is currently working tirelessly to bring in the type of player that will add to the strength and character of the squad, with the aim of making Swansea City a competitive Championship Club.

Once again, we wish Andy Robinson every success in the choice he has made in this next stage of his career.”

Swansea City fans will be disappointed that a player has left them to play in a lower league. Their nightmare will be complete if Leeds United win promotion in their Play-off final this Sunday against Doncaster Rovers.

Swansea fans were unhappy that the -15 point debate detracted from appreciation of their League One Championship success and now this defection to Leeds United will raise the question in the minds of fans and neutrals alike – just how big a club is Swansea City?

Consequentially, the question will also be asked as to whether or not Swansea City will survive in the Championship or follow Scunthorpe United in immediate relegation as they too lost an influential player, on-loan Jermaine Beckford, in the pre-season to their Championship campaign.