After Lewis handed the reins of the club over to Petty for �1, the Australian businessman implemented a series of wage cuts and reduced contracts.

That set the fans against Petty, and the relationship has never recovered.

Now, with the consortium of Mel Griffin and Jim Moore poised to form a new regime, Lewis says he was wrong to sell to Petty - but there was no other option.

"In hindsight, mistakes were made. I am full of regrets about that, but there was no-one else waiting in the wings," he said.

"Mr Petty convinced me, to a point, that he had the ability to run the club as he had done such good things in Australian soccer.

"It's about the right time because the Swansea public are sick and tired about his name being associated with the club and, likewise, he must be sick and tired of all the abuse.

"He started off on the wrong foot and the fans never forgave him."

Lewis, who still advises the club on their proposed move to the Morfa Stadium, believes Griffin and Moore should be given local support.

"If they buy the club and pass it on, it must be to the benefit of the club and to secure it, and those people must have the experience of running a football club and the financial backing."

If the takeover doesn't happen, then Lewis has admitted he may yet be involved again.

"One of the terms of the deal was compensation, over a period of time, and that hasn't been honoured," he said.

"So, I am questioning whether the deal was valid because of the condition of sale."

But the signs are that the deal will go ahead, with Petty's lawyers due to meet Moore and Griffin on Friday.