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Note of Meeting with Mehmet Dalman February 10th, 2024

Prior to kick off on Saturday, the Fans Advisory Board (FAB), of which myself and Mike Spear are members, were invited at short notice to a meeting chaired by City Chairman Mehmet Dalman. Also in attendance were Ken Choo (Chief Executive), Steve Borley (Director) and various Heads of Department at the club.

The meeting was informal and was an opportunity for Mehmet to meet with FAB members including those recently elected who may not have met senior officials of the Club before. There was no fixed agenda and the floor was open to questions on any subject. Inevitably, the January Transfer Window was discussed at length.

Mehmet emphasised that player negotiations had taken place throughout the month but, as is usually the case, could only be concluded in the final days with some transactions going to the wire. He stated that the Club’s transfer activity, in the context of the Club’s financial position, was under close scrutiny by the EFL under Profitability and Sustainability Rules (formerly known as FFP). Members will be aware that there is a new focus on Profitability and Sustainability and all EFL clubs were under the same level of scrutiny during the last Window. I will be preparing a separate detailed note on the new approach to the rules governing the financial viability of clubs and will circulate it to members in due course.

Keith Morgan

Chair

Keith Morgan, Trust Chair

Trust Chair Keith Morgan writes to members about the settlement of legal action against football agent, Willie McKay.

“You will recall we wrote to you last month to let you know that Cardiff City was suing Willie McKay, who was involved in the transfer of Emiliano Sala from FC Nantes.

“The action was to retrieve documents and correspondence relating to McKay’s relationship with FC Nantes to support the club’s claim against the French club (Nantes’ defence was based on a claim that they didn’t know him).

“As you may have seen in the media this week, legal action by Cardiff City against McKay has been settled out of court although the terms of the settlement are covered by confidentiality clauses.

“However, it now appears that the club’s lawyers have recovered the information they wanted to strengthen their legal case against Nantes.

“We believe this will considerably aid the club’s case against Nantes and the Trust hopes it will bring the case against Nantes closer to a conclusion, which we welcome.”

Keith Morgan, Trust Chair

Trust Chair Keith Morgan has spoken to senior sources at Cardiff City Football Club to get clarification following issues raised by Bluebirds fans on social media.

Keith Morgan said: “Having had a conversation with senior club officials, I thought it would be useful to update members on the current position regarding player transfers etc. at Cardiff City Football Club to clarify a few misconceptions on social media over the last few days.

“The club directors are working in close cooperation and agreement with the manager and recruitment team to bring in new players either on loan or permanently and a number of potential deals are at an advanced stage.

“Deals are never straightforward as they have to be agreed with the players involved and their current clubs but it is anticipated that some deals will be finalised and announced in the coming week. The announcements will include players in and out of the club.”

L’Equipe report

The Trust recently reported on the legal battles between Cardiff City and FC Nantes in the wake of the transfer of Emiliano Sala  five years ago this month.

Emiliano Sala tragically died after the light aircraft he was travelling in crashed on its way to Cardiff.

We wanted to make members aware that, according to the French media, Nantes is involved in another significant legal case in its own country (criminal rather than civil) and have been formally accused of using unauthorised players’ agents.

The renowned French newspaper, L’Equipe reported on the issue on November 24, 2023.

The translated report said that FC Nantes has been indicted due to its ongoing relationship with unauthorised agents, including Bakari Sanogo, in particular: “that the managers of the Nantes football club have had recourse on a recurring basis, at least since 2015, to the employment of unauthorised sports agents, by establishing sports agent contracts and player employment contracts under the cover of nominees, both in the context of player transfer negotiations and in the context of negotiations of player contracts.”

I understand that Sanogo had involvement in the Sala transfer, alongside Willie McKay and his son, Mark McKay.

Back in June there were arrests in France of Sanogo, another agent Joaquim Batica and the club president Waldemar Kita and his son, Franck as part of an investigation opened by the Rennes’ Specialised Interregional Court.

We’ll keep members posted when we hear more from across the Channel.

Keith Morgan

Chair

Trust chair Keith Morgan

Ever since the tragic events of nearly five years ago, Cardiff City has received (in my view, unfairly) criticism from a small group of supporters about the way they have pursued legal actions and not considered enough the moral issues of the impact of the tragedy on Emiliano’s family.

Perhaps those fans have forgotten or weren’t aware that club owner Vincent Tan made a very substantial contribution into a Trust fund for the family’s benefit shortly after the accident occurred.

In contrast, FC Nantes were also asked to make a contribution into the fund in honour of their former player but declined to do so.

I believe the club has acted honourably in relation to the Sala family.

Keith Morgan

Chair