TERRY PHILLIPS : "RED STRIP IS SMALL PRICE TO PAY"

Today, it seems, is D-day for the Bluebirds. Talk of Cardiff City playing in red next season is growing stronger.

That now looks highly likely to happen. There is no doubt it would be a radical step to change the club's identity with red home kit and a dragon on the badge, albeit along with a bluebird.

When the idea was first mooted, I didn’t like it one little bit. I'm a traditionalist and Cardiff City play in blue.

But, when you reflect on the probable changes and the advantages to follow from Malaysian backing, you find yourself being pulled by a big red tide.


Why not a red strip, I say today?

Nobody can accuse me of being a 'red lover'.

I was a Spurs fan as a youngster and refused to wear anything red because it was the colour worn by bitter rivals Arsenal.

Today, though, many years on, I've mellowed and can imagine the Bluebirds running out in their new red strip at Cardiff City Stadium. In fact, I reckon it will look pretty good.

Talk of changing from blue to red at home is an emotive subject, but Malaysian investors Vincent Tan and Dato Chan Tien Ghee are planning for a big future.

They are fully committed in their intent to help lead City to the top level.

That is underlined by the 1MalaysiaCardiffcity grassroots football programme being rolled out in the Far East - and affecting thousands of youngsters in their own country.

Tan and TG have bought into Cardiff City’s future in a big way.

It wasn't too far back when we had talk of administration or worse and transfer embargoes because of unpaid tax bills dominated discussion.

Today, the Bluebirds - and they will always have that nickname - have a manager who wants the best and investors who are prepared to help him achieve his goals.

That's fantastic and I, for one, am willing to put tradition aside and back red despite my earlier bias against that colour.

There has been an awful lot of misinformation. I don't believe the Malaysians will try to change the club's nickname to the Dragons or that blue seats will be taken out of the stadium in favour of red.

Neither will happen. Yes, there may be a red dragon on a new-look badge, but surely the bluebird must also remain. Cardiff City are the Bluebirds. Always will be, no matter what the colour of their kit.

Going forward, Tan and Co are willing to pay off the club's debts, take full control of the club and have already assured Malky Mackay he has the financial backing to strengthen his squad for 2012-13 and go flat out for promotion to the Premier League.

Tan is keen on a new state-of-the-art training ground within the city. Their Vale of Glamorgan Resort headquarters are light years ahead of previous training facilities, but City simply don't have enough pitches and can find the extra space needed closer to their stadium.

If the deal is to play in red and have the financial backing and facilities to help build a squad capable of finally ending half a century and more of hurt then I'm for it. I will put tradition to one side.

Mackay clearly accepts the Malaysians are in for the future after pledging his commitment to City despite strong speculation linking him to the managerial vacancy at his former club Norwich.

There is no doubt in my view the Canaries made a 'discreet' enquiry on Mackay, but didn't take that to an official approach level because they were quickly told he wants to remain and finish the job started in Wales.

And it cannot be denied Malaysian investor Vincent Tan has already put in £40m, wants to invest a lot more and is willing to turn much of that money into shares instead of loans.

To do that, of course, he must first sort out clubs debts still owed, the biggest of which concerns the £24m in loan notes issued to Cardiff City by Langston when Hammam was the owner.

Negotiations continue with Hammam and, although nothing has been agreed yet, they are not too far away from a deal which could see Langston accept a pay-off of around £10m.

Many fans were outraged when the re-branding news was leaked and that resulted in far too much in-fighting. It's been divisive, but today, it seems, the final decision is about to me made.

Public opinion led to chairman Dato Chan announcing the plans for a move to red were being dropped, but polls indicate a hefty majority are backing the change.

Internal bickering has to stop and every fan who adores the Bluebirds should look forward and get behind a manager who has had a massive impact on the football club in less than a year since he took charge.

Mackay returns to Wales from a short break in France today and is fully behind changes by club directors.

Not everybody will like the idea of a red strip and I'm sure that even within the boardroom there are men who would, deep down, want to remains blue.

But the club's future rests on financial investment - and Tan is the man ready to pay up.

Provided the kit changes to red. For what may be ahead of City, namely the Premier League, it’s my belief a change of colours is a small price to pay.


Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1wzRmFplo

Thanks Carl,
But I thought you weren't posting til Friday ?

Lets all plan the new red promotion party now then for next May shall we ??????

I am not pro this or that, but whatever is the best for CCFC, let it be!!

What time is announcement due
????

What time is announcement due
????

9 o'clock I believe

Why are we fed all this promised land bullshit? I've got to disagree with all the 50 years of hurt nonsense, i've watchedCity beat Real Madrid to getting humiliated by Merthyr Tydfil but would'nt have wanted it any other way, watching football is a rollercoaster ride & that's how it should be. It's a grossly overated league where most of the teams are there just to make the numbers up & we'd be no more than whipping boys.Football is all about moneymen these days & buying your way to success.

Seems strange to me, play in red at home with blue seasts and our nickname are the bluebirds? I think Terry Phillips knows like the rest of us that wont stay the same, he just does not want to admit it.

Why are we fed all this promised land bullshit? I've got to disagree with all the 50 years of hurt nonsense, i've watchedCity beat Real Madrid to getting humiliated by Merthyr Tydfil but would'nt have wanted it any other way, watching football is a rollercoaster ride & that's how it should be. It's a grossly overated league where most of the teams are there just to make the numbers up & we'd be no more than whipping boys.Football is all about moneymen these days & buying your way to success.

Ditto

Not for me.

Plenty of agents and players will be rubbing themselves in excitement now though.

press propagandists are the WORST of the lot. I wonder how many pounds of OUR money was spend on the "pr budget" aka
"sweeteners" for lackeys in the press. There again, who gives a f**k what a Spurs fan has to say about our Bluebirds?

Calling some of em Judases would be an insult to Judas.

Pass me the sick bag

Nobody can accuse me of being a 'red lover'.

I was a Spurs fan as a youngster and refused to wear anything red because it was the colour worn by bitter rivals Arsenal.

Sums the c**t up

Today, it seems, is D-day for the Bluebirds. Talk of Cardiff City playing in red next season is growing stronger.

That now looks highly likely to happen. There is no doubt it would be a radical step to change the club's identity with red home kit and a dragon on the badge, albeit along with a bluebird.

When the idea was first mooted, I didn’t like it one little bit. I'm a traditionalist and Cardiff City play in blue.

But, when you reflect on the probable changes and the advantages to follow from Malaysian backing, you find yourself being pulled by a big red tide.


Why not a red strip, I say today?

Nobody can accuse me of being a 'red lover'.

I was a Spurs fan as a youngster and refused to wear anything red because it was the colour worn by bitter rivals Arsenal.

Today, though, many years on, I've mellowed and can imagine the Bluebirds running out in their new red strip at Cardiff City Stadium. In fact, I reckon it will look pretty good.

Talk of changing from blue to red at home is an emotive subject, but Malaysian investors Vincent Tan and Dato Chan Tien Ghee are planning for a big future.

They are fully committed in their intent to help lead City to the top level.

That is underlined by the 1MalaysiaCardiffcity grassroots football programme being rolled out in the Far East - and affecting thousands of youngsters in their own country.

Tan and TG have bought into Cardiff City’s future in a big way.

It wasn't too far back when we had talk of administration or worse and transfer embargoes because of unpaid tax bills dominated discussion.

Today, the Bluebirds - and they will always have that nickname - have a manager who wants the best and investors who are prepared to help him achieve his goals.

That's fantastic and I, for one, am willing to put tradition aside and back red despite my earlier bias against that colour.

There has been an awful lot of misinformation. I don't believe the Malaysians will try to change the club's nickname to the Dragons or that blue seats will be taken out of the stadium in favour of red.

Neither will happen. Yes, there may be a red dragon on a new-look badge, but surely the bluebird must also remain. Cardiff City are the Bluebirds. Always will be, no matter what the colour of their kit.

Going forward, Tan and Co are willing to pay off the club's debts, take full control of the club and have already assured Malky Mackay he has the financial backing to strengthen his squad for 2012-13 and go flat out for promotion to the Premier League.

Tan is keen on a new state-of-the-art training ground within the city. Their Vale of Glamorgan Resort headquarters are light years ahead of previous training facilities, but City simply don't have enough pitches and can find the extra space needed closer to their stadium.

If the deal is to play in red and have the financial backing and facilities to help build a squad capable of finally ending half a century and more of hurt then I'm for it. I will put tradition to one side.

Mackay clearly accepts the Malaysians are in for the future after pledging his commitment to City despite strong speculation linking him to the managerial vacancy at his former club Norwich.

There is no doubt in my view the Canaries made a 'discreet' enquiry on Mackay, but didn't take that to an official approach level because they were quickly told he wants to remain and finish the job started in Wales.

And it cannot be denied Malaysian investor Vincent Tan has already put in £40m, wants to invest a lot more and is willing to turn much of that money into shares instead of loans.

To do that, of course, he must first sort out clubs debts still owed, the biggest of which concerns the £24m in loan notes issued to Cardiff City by Langston when Hammam was the owner.

Negotiations continue with Hammam and, although nothing has been agreed yet, they are not too far away from a deal which could see Langston accept a pay-off of around £10m.

Many fans were outraged when the re-branding news was leaked and that resulted in far too much in-fighting. It's been divisive, but today, it seems, the final decision is about to me made.

Public opinion led to chairman Dato Chan announcing the plans for a move to red were being dropped, but polls indicate a hefty majority are backing the change.

Internal bickering has to stop and every fan who adores the Bluebirds should look forward and get behind a manager who has had a massive impact on the football club in less than a year since he took charge.

Mackay returns to Wales from a short break in France today and is fully behind changes by club directors.

Not everybody will like the idea of a red strip and I'm sure that even within the boardroom there are men who would, deep down, want to remains blue.

But the club's future rests on financial investment - and Tan is the man ready to pay up.

Provided the kit changes to red. For what may be ahead of City, namely the Premier League, it’s my belief a change of colours is a small price to pay.


Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1wzRmFplo

To keep his job Terry has to report on Cardiff City.

To be able to continue reporting on Cardiff City , Terry has to keep in with the people who own/control the club.

The owners of the club have already shown on more than one occasion that they are ruthless businessmen used to getting their own way (not a go at them , just a fact). If Terry (or other press employees)is overcritical of them or questions too deeply the reasons for change , do you think they would place him in an impossible position?

To keep his job Terry has to report on Cardiff City.

To be able to continue reporting on Cardiff City , Terry has to keep in with the people who own/control the club.

The owners of the club have already shown on more than one occasion that they are ruthless businessmen used to getting their own way (not a go at them , just a fact). If Terry (or other press employees)is overcritical of them or questions too deeply the reasons for change , do you think they would place him in an impossible position?

Yep, like everything else in this world he is OWNED

Terry Phillips and Tucker were quick enough to complain when Jonesey kicked them out. Looking back, DJ was right. What a pathetic pair of toadies. Not exactly up there with Woodward and Bernstein are they? Cowards.

2 things to say abourt Phillips' article. One he is not a City fan and is paid journalist & so cannot speak as a City fan Two when are we going to be told precisely what price we are paying for having to play in red and lose the bluebird, well we have as it is so small it might as well not be on the badge ie the investment details.