Swansea City's co-owner Jason Levien has insisted that new manager Bob Bradley was not hired because he is a fellow American.
Levien and business partner Steve Caplan sacked Francesco Guidolin and replaced him with former USA national coach Bradley on Monday as the Swans slumped to 17th in the Premier League table.
"The reason we appointed Bob is not because he's American but because we believe he's the best man for the job," Levein told talkSPORT. "Neither Steve nor I had met Bob before we interviewed him last Friday but we did know him by reputation - and he lived up to that high reputation.
"He is a top-class leader, tactically very smart and has the strength of character we believe will make an immediate impact in the dressing room and on the training ground.
"Anybody who knows Bob knows he would only take a job if believed he was getting it on merit, not because we simply wanted another American at the club. We just want the fans to give him a chance and judge him on the job he does, not his accent or passport."
Bradley's first game in charge of Swansea, who are winless since the opening day of the season, is a tricky trip to Arsenal when Premier League action resumes after the international break on October 15.
Neil Wilkes
