To respond to such a catalogue of disappointment in the manner they have is testament to the immense character which exists within Cardiff’s manager and his players. Many of the club’s hardened support acknowledge this is a team without the flair of its 2010 version. That class included the calibre of Joe Ledley, Michael Chopra, an on-song Jay Bothroyd, and the talented Chris Burke.
Also involved in the Wembley loss at the hands of Blackpool were current stalwarts; Peter Whittingham, Kevin McNaughton, Mark Hudson, and David Marshall. It is this core, and Bellamy – whose return will surely add to the Premier League landscape – that MacKay must astutely add.
The history will live with those players who can now savour a moment in the sun. Soon will come the not inconsiderable challenge of replicating not only Swansea City, but the likes of Stoke City and Wigan Athletic. That trio have steadily cemented themselves as accepted affiliates of the Premier League cast list. All three operate under the chairmanship of home-bred men, who make every decision with the long-term security of their club at heart. Financial well-being is a priority.
Cardiff City can’t boast such stability. They bring with them to the promised-land a debt of £83m. A share of the Premier League’s mammoth £5.5.bn television deal – an agreement which covers the next three years – and the cushion of increased parachute payments in the event of relegation will put a dent in that sizeable deficit. It is a marked reversal of fortune for a club which, three years ago, was staving off a High Court winding-up order brought by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
The club’s Malaysian backer Vincent Tan – to who more than £37m of the £51m owed this year is due – has already pledged to invest £20m-£25m in the Cardiff playing squad.
Nevertheless, there is no rulebook which lays out a certain path to initial top-flight survival and subsequent growth. Mr Tan admitted as much following Tuesday’s draw against Charlton Athletic which secured his club’s new status;
‘We need to strategise well and we’d like to spend some money – maybe 20 to 25 million.
‘Others have spent a big amount of money and don’t do well, so we will try to spend smartly’.
Queens Park Rangers have parted with obscene amounts of cash in their scattergun approach to live with the big beasts since winning the 2011 Championship title. They presently have 24 points and, with Reading, look certain to be relegated come May. Despite right now having accrued exactly the same points total as their London counterparts, Reading’s approach couldn’t have been more different.
Indeed, one of the reasons cited by the Berkshire outfit’s new Russian owners for removing McDermott was the now Leeds United manager’s frugality in January’s transfer window.
In recent times, Burnley, Blackpool, and Derby County have all opted to cash in their golden ticket rather than spend lavishly in any attempt to maintain their Premier League presence. Those sides now make up the second-tier numbers.
West Bromwich Albion adopted a similar strategy. After a spell of boing-boinging between the top two divisions, the Baggies’ long-game has borne fruit. They now operate with eyes focusing upwards – rather than forever glancing nervously over their shoulders.
This week’s announcement that the ‘parachute payments’ made to clubs relegated from the top-flight will be raised from the current £48m paid over four years to £60m delivered in the same time-scale, has caused some disquiet. Dissenters argue that an unfair competitive advantage is being gifted to the beneficiaries of that bounty.
That is not a safety net which Cardiff City and their ambitious backers will wish to rely on. There is no guarantee of an instant return. Of the three teams demoted a year ago, only Bolton Wanderers stand any chance of a top-six Championship finish. Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers are concerned with matters at the bottom end of the table.
Wealthy businessmen do not become involved in football to draw on their consolation prize. Nor do they wish to be entangled in planning applications and council meetings. That is why Cardiff’s new 26,828 capacity home – opened in 2009 – was an absolute necessity to attract the riches of Mr Tan and his associates. Bouncing with a fevered support it might be worth a few extra points come August.
Supporters of the Bluebirds have had to stomach some unpalatable change during their three years under Asian ownership. Most infamously, the club’s famous blue strip was changed to red and adorned with a new badge ahead of this season.
The owners rather capricious reasons for meddling in detail so precious to fans were explained as necessary to ‘enable the club to progress to the next stage in its development’, and to allow it to ‘expand its appeal to as wide an audience as possible’.
Without supporter acceptance of a piece of their club’s heritage being stamped on, a range of investments proposed by the Malaysians would have been withdrawn.
Cardiff City have suffered and sacrificed to reach their coveted destination. If any expert tells you that they know what happens next, you might be wise to ignore them.
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