Trust News

Trust chair Keith Morgan pictured with Rob Phillips and Jason Perry

What a thoroughly entertaining evening we had with Bluebirds legend Jason Perry and ex-BBC Wales commentator, Rob Phillips following the Trust’s AGM.

And it’s fair to say there was a fair amount of disagreement between the two on many of the topics raised at our roadshow at the Cardiff City Stadium.

There were a huge range of issues discussed: from the new manager and structure of the club, through to our prospects in League One and chat about Rubin Colwill and Aaron Ramsey.

Looking back at the previous season, Jason said: “At the start of the season the squad was not good enough. Individually, they are not bad players but it’s about playing as a team. You need certain characters in the dressing room – players like Sol Bamba or Junior Hoilett. Who is there in the present squad?”

He said that as the season proceeded it was “obvious we would be relegated”.

“This club also needs to be pulled together. The only way to do that is to fix the structure. It is all wrong. Who is there to help the head coach (Brian Barry-Murphy).”

Rob Phillips added: “If you were going for form a football club you wouldn’t set it up the way it is here. There needs to be a director of football.”

On the forthcoming League One season, Jason warned: “It is going to be tough. Teams play very differently – some are tippy tappy, others sit back, some go direct. It is going to be relentless and players have to take responsibility.”

Both stressed that it was a big season for Rubin Colwill and both were largely unimpressed by his overall performances last season. Jason argued it would have been beneficial for his development if Rubin had been loaned out, possibly twice . “Unfortunately, he can’t run beyond and can’t last for 90 minutes.”

Jason also pointed to Alex Robertson. “We were told ‘what a player he is’ but he couldn’t get on the ball. We could not stretch teams. We need players to disrupt.”

Both Jason and Rob defended the decision to bring in Aaron Ramsey, even though he was plagued by injury during his two seasons. “In the season before he came to Cardiff he played more games (for Nice) than he had since his Arsenal days. Injuries happen,” said Rob. “Any Championship club would have taken him.”

Rob said that he did not think a takeover of the club was on the horizon. “At the moment Vincent Tan is still very committed and continues to put money into the club.”

Both argued that relegation to League One for the first time for more than 20 years should be a catalyst for a total revamp of the higher echelons of the club and putting in a football structure suitable for 2025 but warned it “might not happen.”

Jason said: “It is difficult to come to evenings like this – I feel it is like rewind and play every season. If you are negative about the club it is because you care. I don’t like searching for negatives and I’m desperate for a great season.”

He said that despite his many concerns about the way the club was structured he would be 100% behind the head coach despite reservations.

Bluebirds legend Jason Perry and former  BBC Wales soccer commentator, Rob Phillips will head up a roadshow after our AGM on Thursday, June 18th.

We’re guessing that there will be plenty to chew over – the new manager and the likely fortunes of the club in League One in 2025-26.

The AGM will take place in the Chairman’s Suite at the Cardiff City Stadium. Doors will open at 6.30pm and the popular chat with Jason and Rob will follow the Trust AGM which starts at 7pm. There is no admission charge.   

NON MEMBERS: You can also join the Trust on the night for just £12 a year. So if you’re interested in signing up as a member, please book your place at members@ccfctrust.org. Come and join us on June 19^th.

The following message was issued to our members today in the wake of continuing uncertainty over the appointment of a new Cardiff City manager:

You will remember we wrote to you on June 4 expressing our concern about the absence of any information from the club on the progress in recruiting a new manager. Well, surprise surprise, there is no further information and the fanbase are still in the dark. Time is moving on, critical pre-season decisions need to be made in terms of the squad which cannot happen without a manager.

It is as long ago as  April 19  that Omer Riza was relieved of his duties and May 3 was the final game of the season and it is June 10 that this communication is being written with still no sign of an appointment. As the ultimate power within the Club does Vincent Tan have a sense of urgency ?

The club may say that there is no reason to panic but it is fair to say that the fanbase view the situation with some concern and anger. That fact that there has been a deafening silence from the Club has not been helpful. No attempt to allay concerns and confirm that the ship is not heading for the iceberg.

We have been in frequent contact with the club and have urged them to put out a statement to update fans as to where we are but nothing has emerged. We are led to believe that the current state of inertia/indecision is purely down to the owner and his acolyte Ken Choo.

Looking at the news section on the club website it shows no reference to manager recruitment since the end of the season. In the meantime this information vacuum has been filled with rumour and speculation in the Press and Social Media but still nothing official. This situation is intolerable and only serves to demonstrate the contempt the owner holds the fanbase in.

We have no idea where we are in the process. Are the experts employed to assist in the job of finding a new manager still in the building? Are they continuing to advise ? We hope they are but we just don’t know.

We will continue to liaise with the club to try and urge them to improve communication as fans deserve to be treated better.

Mention has already been made in this communication of the news section on the club website. It is interesting to note that, on April 28, the club won an EFL Fan Engagement award as a club who “demonstrates how it specifically involves and liaises with supporters”.

In the light of the current debacle over communication in respect of the appointment of a new manager perhaps the club might consider handing the award back.

Trust Board

The Trust Board today sent the following message to members:

Dear Member,

Manager Recruitment

It is a matter of considerable concern that there has been no formal communication from the club to fans in respect of where we are in appointing a new manager.

Since the season ended at Norwich on May 3 fans have learned via Wales Online that Sports Agency Wasserman had been engaged to assist in the recruitment process along with Mark Allen, a former Swansea City Sporting Director. Of course, at the Fans Advisory Board (FAB) meeting on May 12 these issues were discussed. However, as the club did not publish the minutes until May 23 (11 days after the meeting and not the promised 48 hours) it was a bit late to be told the bare minimum that the process had already started (prior to May 12) and that the end of May was the target for appointment which has now come and gone.

Looking at the news on the club website since the club statement regarding relegation on April 29 there has been no mention of manager recruitment. What appears to be an information vacuum is being filled with rumour, betting odds from bookmakers and social media and press speculation but nothing official from the club. Fans are very concerned about the appointment of a new manager in our new situation in League 1. Given the club’s poor handling of the manager’s position in 2024-25, getting it right for next season, set against a background of the promised root and branch review, is a bigger priority than ever.

Fans don’t expect confidential information on specifics of who, when and where that might compromise the process but at least letting them know officially where we are in the procedure and updating of timescales would go a long way to quelling concerns. Even a sentence or two from the club to say that the recruitment is proceeding but we do not want to jeopardise the process would be helpful. The club appears to be its own worst enemy in this respect and its silence only fuels negative speculation that impacts upon themselves.

The club have gone some way to filling the football expertise gap in appointing external consultants to assist in the recruitment process, however, it is reasonable to say that the fanbase still has reservations that Vincent Tan will embrace any recommendation that they may come up with and put in place a decision based on his own special kind of footballing expertise.

“We hear you” said the club in its statement of April 29. Well, we are not hearing you.

Cardiff City Supporters Trust Board

Jason Perry and Rob Phillips with Trust Chair Keith Morgan

We’re delighted to announce that Bluebirds legend Jason Perry and former  BBC Wales soccer commentator, Rob Phillips will head up a roadshow after our AGM in June.

Those of you that regularly attend the boys’ roadshows will have heard yearly warnings about the running of the club and the impact distant ownership was having.  The chickens came home to roost in the last Championship season with relegation to League One.

So we can look forward to Jason and Rob giving their expert views on the new managerial appointment and the club’s prospects for season 2025-26.

The AGM will take place on Thursday, June 19^th in the Chairman’s Suite at the Cardiff City Stadium. Doors will open at 6.30pm and the popular chat with Jason and Rob will follow the Trust AGM which starts at 7pm. There is no admission charge.   

Trust Chair Keith Morgan said: “We’re very grateful once again to Jason and Rob for giving up their time and fronting our fans’ forum.

“We had high hopes going into the 2024-25 season which was our club’s 125^th anniversary. Sadly, things ended very badly with relegation. The club now has to rebuild and hopefully we’ll return to the Championship quickly and push on from there.

“Members will want to know Jason and Rob’s views on Cardiff City going forward, including the type of players the club should be aiming to sign.”

Members who want to attend can reserve their place by emailing members@ccfctrust.org. You can also bring up to two guests. Please let us know if you intend to bring guests.

You can also join the Trust on the night for just £12 a year. So if you’re interested in signing up as a member, please book your place at members@ccfctrust.org. Come and join us on June 19^th.