Glasgow: Former Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers is “bitterly disappointed” at the sacking of Paul Clement, who was ousted by the Premier League club on Wednesday.

Clement took over at Swansea last January and led the club to Premier League safety but was fired almost a year later with the Welsh side bottom of the table with three wins in 18 games.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, confirmed: “To change the manager, especially at only the halfway point of the season, is the last thing we wanted to do as a club.

“We had three different managers last season and as a result we all wanted to give Paul as much time as possible to turn things around.

“But we felt we couldn’t leave it any longer and needed to make a change to give us the best chance of an uplift and a turnaround in fortunes with the club bottom of the Premier League.”

Clement, 45, took charge in January replacing Bob Bradley and guided the club out of the relegation zone and finished at the 15th place.

Jenkins added, “Paul has been at the club for 12 months and what he achieved in the second half of last season to keep us in the top flight was a tremendous feat. For that, and his effort and commitment this season, it goes without saying that the club thanks him for his work, together with Nigel (Gibbs) and Karl (Halabi).”

Rodgers, who coached Swansea from 2010 to 2012, blamed the departures of attacking duo Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente for Swansea’s plight in the current season.

“I’m bitterly disappointed for Paul,” Celtic manager Rodgers was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “He’s a very good coach and it’s obviously been a very difficult season for him — losing the key threats in their team.

“He went in there this time last year and did an incredible job to keep them up. I’m very disappointed for him and of course for Swansea.

“Paul is a very good coach and making his steps in management but it’s the game now, unfortunately. If you’re not getting the results you’re always under threat.”

Swansea host 14th-placed Crystal Palace, who have revived their season under Roy Hodgson, in the league on Saturday.