Quiet man Hochstadt could be set to make a big noise at the Swans

No one is above doing the hard work and getting their hands dirty. It's about those who set themselves apart the individuals who go the extra mile and intentionally align themselves with the right people in the companies or industries they aspire to be a part of.

- TOM COLEMAN Football Writer

Few, if any, Swansea City fans would have known his name around three months ago.

But American entrepreneur Scott Hochstadt has quietly become one of the most influential figures within the club's new-look ownership group.

Hochstadt, a neighbour of Swans co-owner Brett Cravatt, has been the catalyst in the recent deals to bring Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg into the club as minority investors, and there's every chance his influence might not stop there.

Having previously cultivated relationships with a number of big names across the worlds of sport and entertainment, Hochstadt has proved an attractive intermediary for the club in its bid to establish and maximise new revenue streams.

Now, having helped broker deals to bring a Ballon d’Or winner and a hip-hop icon on board, Hochstadt has suggested his involvement in the club is only just beginning.

"Honored and hyped to join the @ swansofficial family alongside @ lukamodric10 - World Cup MVP - and @snoopdogg, a global icon in both sports and entertainment," he wrote on Instagram.

"Two legends whose stories inspired me since day one.

"Wild to think Doggystyle was the first CD I ever bought at Columbia Mall (Maryland), while Snoop was on the rise out West and making waves in hip-hop.

"Years of building with our Legends family now meets a historic football club with over a century of tradition.

"The @legends movement is real - UnderDoggs outwork everyone.

"Let's get it, @brettcravatt."

Many will take that as an indication that Hochstadt is about make his own investment in the club, although it's understood those suggestions are wide of the mark for now.

Nevertheless, it's likely that Swans fans will be hearing his name a little more often from now on.

At first glance, it seems an unlikely step for the entrepreneur, and many might well be wondering how this has all materialised, but on closer inspection, the puzzle pieces start to fit.