The Confused View From The Fence

I will try and keep this as brief as possible but I have quite a few points to make (and get off my chest)

Firstly let me say that after supporting the Bluebirds for nearly 40 years I begrudgingly accepted the re-brand of our Kit and Badge - I simply took this as a decision of a company owner who needed to freshen up an ailing 'business'. However... a football club is unlike any other business that Vincent Tan has otherwise invested in. Other businesses have customers and clients who buy products and services. Cinemas have customers who buy entertainment. FOOTBALL CLUBS HAVE SUPPORTERS (FANS) WHO BUY EMOTION. This makes owning a football club a very difficult proposition for a businessman who hopes to make a profit. It also makes re-brands in football all the more distasteful due to the emotion that arises from the move to change.

I hate to say it but Football in the UK is usually either the playground for the rich (i.e. a hobby) or a project for the wealthy(ish) fan of a team who wishes to keep his 'pride and joy' alive and thriving. For Tan to come to the UK football scene hoping for a profit could be seen as many as a pipe dream. But it's his pipe-dream and one that he is determined to succeed with.

A few facts that need to be made:
1) Without Tan then Cardiff City, in our present format, would not exist. Our proud history would have drifted away along the river of administration and liquidation. Let's face it; we would not have found another benefactor to save us.
2) Tan is entitled to do what he wishes with his football club. It's his personal money that he is spending (unlike predecessors who have invested money from their other businesses). All he has to do is convince the board to back him.
3) We have a choice whether, or not, to continue to support a club that may be in the process, as some think, of having it's heart and soul torn from within it.
4) The Malaysians simply do not understand our culture and our emotional attachment to our club.
5) If we abuse Vincent Tan then he WILL walk away. However Tan can only enforce change on the club if the board endorse it. Therefore lobbying to other members of the board may be a decent idea.

Now... back last year, just after news of a proposed rebranding broke, TG and Tan denied the truth in the rumours.
Is the same happening this year with rumours of a proposed name change? Has somebody from within the club leaked this to the press - at precisely the wrong time for the owners and the board?

I have drawn a line of acceptability in the sand and any name change is completely on the wrong side of the line for me!

I am worried. I am nervous. I do not know whether or not to trust the name of Cardiff City (and the memories that it holds) in the hands of our benefactors. He maybe telling the truth and a name change just isn't on the agenda. He may not be.

So which side of the fence do I fall on to? From a business perspective; I can see Tan's reasons for his actions. I am even prepared to accept that the team that I support now play in red. I am willing to accept that red will become the dominent colour at the CCS.

However the brand named of Cardiff City and the Bluebirds should not be touched and I believe that 80%+ of all supporters will agree. This compares favourably against the 80% who are comfortable with the colour and badge change.

I cannot see any future for the Keep Cardiff Blue campaign. Why? because under the current ownership the club will remain red and 10-20% of the supporters campaigning is not enough to make a difference. HOWEVER... KEEP CARDIFF CITY as CARDIFF CITY - THE BLUEBIRDS is a very different proposition.

Let's not be rude and derogatory to a man who has kept our football club afloat. However let's be absolutely firm in our stance that 'Cardiff City' is a part of our soul and should remain as such.