Martinez has Wales Premiership dream

Apr 14 2008 by Blair Wood, Western Mail

Swansea City

ROBERTO MARTINEZ has set his sights on achieving the Premiership dream for Swansea City after declaring it is a boom time for Welsh football.

Martinez’s Swans clinched promotion to the Championship with Saturday’s 2-1 win at Gillingham, less than a week after Dave Jones’ Cardiff City reached the FA Cup final.

Martinez declared the success of our two main clubs, coupled with the recent results of John Toshack’s Wales team, has given everyone in the Welsh game a buzz.

He says 2007-08 has been “a fantastic season” for Welsh football, thrusting the game here into the limelight.

And Martinez is adamant that Toshack’s team will soon reap the rewards of Wales having two successful teams.

“Welsh football has taken some big steps forward this season,” said the Swans manager.

“That is what ourselves and Cardiff have been working towards. Next, if we can get together with the FAW, we can work out how to keep club football going in the right direction in Wales.

“If we can do that, success for the Welsh clubs is going to inevitably help John Toshack and his national team.

“It’s always going to be important for Welsh football that its professional teams are playing at the highest level possible. Swansea City being in the Championship is just part of that.

“It helps the clubs produce better players while ensuring any Welsh talents already there keep progressing.”

But Martinez added, “The job is not over yet though. We still need to get Swansea City back where the club should be – and I believe that is in the Premiership.

“The Championship is the next step. Playing week in, week out against those teams at that level can only make us better and it is a wonderful opportunity we need to be ready for.

“Going up is a dream come true for Swansea City. It has taken us 24 years to get to this level and I am so proud of the way we have achieved it.

“We need to enjoy the way we have won promotion. We have done it the Swansea way, full of style.

“Next we need to make sure we are ready to compete in the Championship. There is a huge gap between the two divisions, so we need to be realistic and accept how tough it will be.

“Nor can we stop working until the end of the season, either. We need to concentrate on winning our last three games.

“You don’t get many opportunities, either as players or a manager, to win a title. The players deserve to go up as champions and that’s what I’m looking for."

See pics of Swansea City's promotion celebration