" Thursday 16th December 2010 Update "

Great update Carl, I never believed all that bollocks about Tan leaving so soon, but a lot of people did, so that should help calm them down

I, along with Annis, Clive ( ridofrid ) and Gwyn, attended a meeting tonight with Steve Borley to discuss plans for the initiative that has been set up by this forum in raising funds for our development centres which feed our Academy. We were shown around the House of Sport by Steve and I must say he has done a magnificent job in bringing it to reality. Steve Borley spent £2million of his own money to build the house of sport and it was vital for us to maintain academy status.

In March next year there is to be a tournament run by the Malaysians and will become an annual event at the House of Sport.

It costs CCFC £700k per year to run the academy and they receive only £160k from the Premier League as a subsidy.

Steve highlighted to us that Football in the Community have had their funding slashed this season and the initiative that we are setting up as come at the very right time. http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewt ... =2&t=27677

Steve informed us of plans to set up a tournament where companies will sponsor a team to enter and all proceeds will be passed down to the development centres, this will mean thousands of pounds.

The first team have been using the facilities there during the recent bad weather, at least if things ever turn sour at the vale, as it's run very much by the WRU, our first team still have excellent facilities. At the vale the WRU have first option on the indoor pitch over us.

Newport County even used the facilities today.

Training at the club this week has been focusing on defence and Chris Riggott has played a big part in the '1st' team but I understand he has been struggling with the pace of the sessions, for me this goes back to not having a reserve side as it would give players like Chris the opportunity to get up to speed and not in the focus of possibly being thrown into the 1st team because of results.

Craig Bellamy has been a much calmer influence around the training ground and the atmosphere amongst the squad has been better. The players know they have to get results to put a stop to a terrible run of results and stop this campaign turning into a disaster.

For the Watford game on the 28th we have been alloacated 2300 and so far just over 2100 have been sold. There will be no more tickets requested as the club are aware already that no more would be released. We actually lose 10% of our allocation for our persistent standing at games.

Leeds tickets are selling very well and fast so I am asked to urge fans to buy early and do not leave it until after Christmas or the new year as you may be left disappointed.

At the Portsmouth game earlier this season there was an incident which resulted in City fans being arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in a fracas. This week a group of fans were charged but refused to sign the paperwork that would have meant they were agreeing to being banned from future games until they appear in court. The fans were asked to sign the paperwork and enter into an agreement that would stop them going to the games but on the grounds of their liberty and human rights they refused to sign and as a result this particular group are able to attend games at CCS until their court case decides their fate.

As already reported on here and I have since had conversations which confirm it, DJ's agent has been responsible for his name being linked with jobs at Blackburn and a while ago with West Ham and Fulham.

Wayne Routledge is a target of DJ's and the club made contact with Newcastle but with Alan Pardew going there it is unlikely that we will see Routs down at CCS this January. A player that DJ is also interested in is winger Adam Hammill at Barnsley.

It is my understanding that the Welsh FA made a terrible mistake financially when they appointed Gary Speed as the new Welsh manager, as they paid £500k compensation for him and I have had it on good authority that Sheff Utd were already on the look out for a new manager to replace Speed in January as they were dismissing him. Robbie Savage has contacted Speed and already told him he is available to play.

PMG have entered negotiations with the WRU in CCS holding further rugby events, similar to the game the Gwent Dragons played there last week. I am aware that it costs £20,000 to rent the CCS for a one off match plus the cost of the staff. The Millenium Stadium costs in the region of £200,000 including staff for a one off match.

There has been much speculation recently regarding Dave Jones' future and also the length of stay of the Malaysians. Firstly where Dave Jones is concerned he is under pressure to succeed and this came at the start of the season with the players he signed but in recent weeks he has been told by none other that Vincent Tan that the results must be turned around. Yes Dave Jones has to get results in the next 2 games or " the pressure will really be on " I am told.

The Malaysians or being more specific Vincent Tan is not ready to up and leave if things don't work out to go as planned this season, Tan is a businessman and he wants positive results from a business point of view but those who believe he has had enough and is ready to get out and take his money too, are I am glad to say, wrong. For Vincent Tan has made a massive investment recently ( which will come out soon ) which further backs the claim that he is sticking around for a little while yet.

I am told there is a 3 year plan by Tan and in that time he wants and expects this club to be in the Premiership, which starts with and includes this season. Vincent Tan has put well over £15 million to the cause and has know upped his investment significantly with this further investment. Furthermore, Tan has 2 of his children in private education here, one in Brecon and one in Loughborough.

Sam Hammam is in London and has been for a couple days and flies out tomorrow morning and as yet no deal has been agreed between the club and Langston. Sam is disappointed that it is not settled already and also that they are not even close to a deal at present because there are no talks ongoing. It is looking increasingly likely that no deal will be reached before the end of the year and that is unfortunate news for the club as the opportunity to reduce the debt will be lost. Is Vincent Tan letting it go to the wire in an attempt to reduce the debt further, I guess we will have to wait and see but whatever happens we won't be waiting long.

As I said before during a recent meeting VT said ( regarding DJ's position ) he did not want to "rock the boat ". I am not saying he will not sack DJ but I am told that DJ has got his backing but has been told that he has to turn these results around in no uncertain terms. Let's be honest and up front Tan is a businessman and not a football fan. His son U-juin however has become a big fan of CCFC and loves the place.

DJ knows he has to sort the defence out and he wants a centre half in desperately, but he has been told that players have to be moved on also. Rae, Jarvis, Wildig ( who has bulked up considerably this season ) will all be at least loaned out this January.

It is imperative that we get behind the team and help lift this group back to winning ways, lets not be downbeat, we are second, we are progressing and we are going into a very busy period where with the right results we can set ourselves up for the new year.

Carl, has there been any truth in VT sounding out replacements for DJ, just in case he does lose the next two games ????

If so who is in the frame Big Sam, Houghton, Martin O'Neil ??????????

Great update Carl,it`s good to get some good news again.Now if we can only get 3 points off Burnley it will be a great weekend as well.

Im glad we agree that positivity is whats needed.

massive investment recently ( which will come out soon ) - Spill the beans carl

do we really need to quote carl when we want to ask hiim something guys... i think he knows your adressing him

A good positive post, it all looks quite promising for the future.
No businessman with any sense is gonna plough money into a venture to just bugger off at the first opportunity.
We all need to get behind the team (not nessasarally DJ ) to show some passion and let VT know that his efforts are appreciated.

I have not read any of the replies, so I'm sorry if this has already been asked/replied to, but, if there is not a resolution to the Langston deal before the new year, doesn't that mean that the debt rises to 20 odd million?!?!?!?!?!

Surely that implies that the Malasians are not in this for the long haul?!

Sorry if I'm reading too much into this, but surely this is a huge concern?

Claire, If the cut off date for repayment is the 31st, then thats the day it will go
into Sams account. Standard business practice. Else Vinnie would end up losing
out on a fair bit of interest.

No way will they leave themselves liable to doubling of the debt. Either Vincenzo
has an ace up his sleeve or he's just hanging on to it in his own account until the
very last minute

Thanks Carl good news re Mr Tan

thanks carl

Thought they changed the name from 'House of Sport' to ' The Cardiff City Academy '

great update carl, just joined so i could thank u for all the hard work you and annis do to keep us reel fans up to date with the real truth. cant wait for the next one

great update carl, just joined so i could thank u for all the hard work you and annis do to keep us reel fans up to date with the real truth. cant wait for the next one

Thank you

thanx carl, much appreciated, keep up the good work,,,,,,,, your a star

Carl
Looking forward to TODAYS NEWS YEARS EVE UPDATE

Carl
Looking forward to TODAYS NEWS YEARS EVE UPDATE

why? u already know whats in it

Carl
Looking forward to TODAYS NEWS YEARS EVE UPDATE

why? u already know whats in it

NOW