The supporters of Cardiff City were relieved to hear the club has been given a further 56 days by the High Court to clear its outstanding tax debts. However, fans were also alarmed to hear the Bluebirds described as “plainly insolvent” by the barrister representing Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

It is obvious that our football club is in a wretched financial state and yet there appears to have been none of the drastic cost-cutting measures we have seen at other clubs who have encountered similar problems. Instead, it seems the only remedies being offered by the Cardiff City board are hopes of substantial foreign investment or promotion to the Premiership.

Given the club’s perilous position and our team’s poor recent form, both solutions seem wildly optimistic. Consequently, these are very worrying times for Bluebirds fans.

Despite the club’s increasingly desperate plight, its management and players have continued to collect their hefty wages, and there are suggestions that some of the major shareholders have ensured monies owing to them have been paid ahead of those owed to HMRC.

Meanwhile, supporters have been asked to dip into their pockets time and again, and they have done so. Within the space of the last twelve months, the club has benefited from record season ticket sales and its highest attendance levels since the early-Seventies, so the fans have clearly been playing their part.

At present, the feeling amongst the Bluebirds’ support is that we are being badly let down by those who are in control of our club. We were led to believe the move to our new stadium was the dawn of a bright new era, but in recent months it has been developing into a nightmare and there are genuine fears that things will go from bad to worse in the near future.

The board of directors and major shareholders are the custodians of our proud football club and, as such, they have a very clear duty to safeguard its future. We therefore hope they acknowledge their responsibilities and start to act accordingly.

On behalf of Cardiff City’s thousands of loyal supporters, we hereby call upon the directors, shareholders, management and players to set aside their personal interests and do what is right by our beloved football club during the critical weeks ahead.

The Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust has announced that Paul Corkrey is to stand down from his position as Chairman with immediate effect as a result of medical advice.

A 51 year-old former coal miner from Treharris who lost his right leg in an accident at Taff Merthyr colliery in 1978, Paul has been advised by his consultant to minimize his involvement in the Trust following a recent deterioration in his physical condition.

Corky, as Paul is better-known, acted as Secretary of the Valley RAMS supporters’ club between 2001 and 2006 before founding the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust in 2007. A lifelong Bluebirds fanatic, he also serves as the Secretary of FSF Cymru, which is the Welsh branch of the national Football Supporters’ Federation.

CCST Vice-Chairman Tim Hartley led the tributes to Paul, saying: “On behalf of the board, I would like to place on record our sincere thanks for the incredible amount of work Corky has put into the Trust over the last couple of years.

“Paul was the man who got things started in November 2007 when he called the initial meeting aimed at setting up a trust for Cardiff City supporters, and since then he has been tireless in his efforts to help the organisation become properly established. He has done a wonderful job for the fans of our club throughout the last nine years, so hopefully he will now enjoy a well-deserved break.”

Membership Secretary Dave Sugarman added: “Corky is very disappointed at having to step down, but obviously his health must come first. He’s become a good friend to a great many Bluebirds fans over the years and his unique brand of leadership will be sorely missed by everyone involved in the Trust.

“Having said that, I know Paul is a very firm believer in the supporters’ trust movement and he’s rightly proud of what our trust has managed to achieve so far, so I’m sure he’ll be involved again in some capacity once he’s had a rest and regained his strength.”

VACANCY –  MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

The position of Membership Secretary was being temporarily filled however it is now time for this to be a stand alone role. Therefore Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust are seeking a volunteer who would be able to take this position on.

Please find below an outline of the role:

•  Collection of membership applications from the PO Box at Llanishen a minimum of once per week (ideally twice per week)
• Collation of online membership which is accessed via an e-mail account
• All other forms of membership – to be arranged
• Inputting of membership details into the online system
• Post membership packs (letter, badge and membership card) to members

 Please note that:

• Full training will be provided with continued support

If you are interested in applying for the role please send your details to Tracey Marsh at finances@ccfctrust.org or send your request by post to:

Cardiff City FC Supporters Trust
P.O. Box 4254, Cardiff, CF14 8FD

Thank you

Tracey Marsh

The board of the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust understands and shares the frustration that many Bluebirds fans are feeling as a result of the club’s current predicament. Our beloved football club appears to be in a precarious position with a High Court appearance scheduled for next week, various bills remaining unpaid and sources of future income seemingly already exhausted.

We are aware that some of our members will be taking part in Saturday’s planned protest march from Canton to the Cardiff City Stadium. Although the Supporters’ Trust has not been involved in the organisation of this event, we recognise the fans’ right to protest peacefully.

Meanwhile, the Trust’s board are requesting an urgent meeting with Bluebirds officials in order to discuss the current situation and seek assurances about the club’s financial stability in the short, medium and long term.

Paul Corkrey
Chairman