" Nathan Blake urges Vincent Tan to put fans first "

Cardiff City legend Nathan Blake urges Vincent Tan to put fans first

Mar 1st 2013



Nathan Blake

“All I know is that fans do not want to lose the tradition or love for their club. Traditions are more important than almost anything else.


CARDIFF City legend Nathan Blake has called on club owner Vincent Tan to put the fans first following a turbulent 24 hours sparked by the Malaysian’s suggestion he would consider renaming the club Cardiff Dragons.

Blake urged the Malaysian billionaire not to “rip down the good work he has done” and insisted his comments were not helping Malky Mackay and his team’s bid for promotion.

Tan moved to assure supporters there would be no name change late yesterday afternoon after a furious reaction following his initial comments in a television interview.

Despite the statement, Tan’s apparent indifference towards fans’ unhappiness has still left many fearing for what might come next in the rebranding process.

Tan suggested he would sell the club to another buyer if fans were not welcoming or rude to him, and he controversially questioned why supporters would want to hold on to a Bluebirds brand that has brought minimal success, while also dismissing dissenters as “mostly young kids”.

Blake, who played more than 130 games for the club, told Tan he cannot continue to trample over the traditions of the club.

“It doesn’t surprise me to be honest,” he said.

“I am still reeling from the kit change.

“As far as I am concerned nobody has given a valid reason for any of this happening.

“Nobody has given us an answer because there isn’t one.

“People talked about the club going under if these things weren’t done but it just comes down to one man’s choice at the end of the day.

“That should not be a reason.

“He believes he knows better than anyone else at the football club but he has only been involved in the game for a few years.

“A football club is not like any other business but he doesn’t seem to understand that.

“It seems to be a case of ‘forget about the history, the 100 years of tradition, I will do what I want’.

“His comments just make you ask ‘what is going to happen next? Where is it going to end?’.

“Chairmen, managers, players and staff all come and go at a football club but fans always remain.

“They are the most important people because they are there for life. It is as simple as that.

“All I know is that fans do not want to lose the tradition or love for their club. Traditions are more important than almost anything else.

“When all those are gone there is nothing that can be done. You are not Cardiff City anymore, you are not the Bluebirds.

“There are certain things you cannot mess with. It is like having a car and taking the wheels off. You can’t drive it without the wheels.”





Vincent Tan's influence over Cardiff City began in May, 2010


Despite the ongoing off-field turmoil, the Bluebirds remain in a remarkably healthy position at the top of the Championship.

Mackay’s team sit eight points clear of their nearest rivals with a game in hand heading into the final two months of the season.

And Blake believes all focus should be on ensuring Tan’s and the supporters’ dream of Premier football is realised.

“Even if these plans were in place for the future, to bring them up now is pointless and disruptive,” he said.

“This will kick up dust for the manager and the players at the most important time possible for the team.

“We are eight points clear with 13 games to go and I just do not understand this at the most important time for the club.

“He is antagonising the fans.

“On the one hand you cannot argue with the investment he has put in and the good work he has done. But he is ripping down all that good work.”

Blake is unsure how the majority of fans will react to the latest rebranding controversy, having been surprised by the way most have embraced the change from blue to red.

“I have been a little bit surprised by how little fuss has been made so far.

“We all saw with the scarf giveaway that the majority of fans were onboard.

“I suppose the fans will vote with their feet. If there are changes and 25,000 people still walk through the door next season, you have your answer.

“But I think this is now going to come to a head with fans,” he added.



Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2MFBotXkr

Blake urged the Malaysian billionaire not to “rip down the good work he has done” and insisted his comments were not helping Malky Mackay and his team’s bid for promotion.

Blake would know all about that with the nonsense he talks.

Drops Hudson of the captaincy I can't take him seriously after that.

Blake urged the Malaysian billionaire not to “rip down the good work he has done” and insisted his comments were not helping Malky Mackay and his team’s bid for promotion.

Blake would know all about that with the nonsense he talks.

Drops Hudson of the captaincy I can't take him seriously after that.

I completely agree with Blake's comments and I completely agreed with Blake at the time regarding Hudson. Blake's comments were just after we conceded 5 away to Charlton and at the time, we was shipping goals and Hudson was failing to organise the defence and team the way a captain should be. I think you will find the majority agreed with Blake at the time when he stated Hudson should be dropped as captain. Fortunately, Hudson has picked up his game and leadership considerably since then.

Blake urged the Malaysian billionaire not to “rip down the good work he has done” and insisted his comments were not helping Malky Mackay and his team’s bid for promotion.

Blake would know all about that with the nonsense he talks.

Drops Hudson of the captaincy I can't take him seriously after that.

I completely agree with Blake's comments and I completely agreed with Blake at the time regarding Hudson. Blake's comments were just after we conceded 5 away to Charlton and at the time, we was shipping goals and Hudson was failing to organise the defence and team the way a captain should be. I think you will find the majority agreed with Blake at the time when he stated Hudson should be dropped as captain. Fortunately, Hudson has picked up his game and leadership considerably since then.

I don't think so, Hudson has been top class for a number of seasons now.

I also don't remember many people agreeing.

Charlton game was a disaster however one bad result doesn't make a captain.
I thought Blakes comments were unbelievable and pathetic.

I agree with him.

The lack of success is bulls**t and nothing to do with luck.

He bought Craig Noone, Jordan Mutch, Fraizer Campbell, Nicky Maynard, Matthew Connolly, Tommy Smith, Craig Bellamy, Helguson, and with the other quality players we have then we will achieve good things in this division.

Nathan blake is right in what he has said good on him for saying it all fair play

'CUSTOMERS'

Cardiff City legend Nathan Blake urges Vincent Tan to put fans first

Mar 1st 2013



Nathan Blake

“All I know is that fans do not want to lose the tradition or love for their club. Traditions are more important than almost anything else.


CARDIFF City legend Nathan Blake has called on club owner Vincent Tan to put the fans first following a turbulent 24 hours sparked by the Malaysian’s suggestion he would consider renaming the club Cardiff Dragons.

Blake urged the Malaysian billionaire not to “rip down the good work he has done” and insisted his comments were not helping Malky Mackay and his team’s bid for promotion.

Tan moved to assure supporters there would be no name change late yesterday afternoon after a furious reaction following his initial comments in a television interview.

Despite the statement, Tan’s apparent indifference towards fans’ unhappiness has still left many fearing for what might come next in the rebranding process.

Tan suggested he would sell the club to another buyer if fans were not welcoming or rude to him, and he controversially questioned why supporters would want to hold on to a Bluebirds brand that has brought minimal success, while also dismissing dissenters as “mostly young kids”.

Blake, who played more than 130 games for the club, told Tan he cannot continue to trample over the traditions of the club.

“It doesn’t surprise me to be honest,” he said.

“I am still reeling from the kit change.

“As far as I am concerned nobody has given a valid reason for any of this happening.

“Nobody has given us an answer because there isn’t one.

“People talked about the club going under if these things weren’t done but it just comes down to one man’s choice at the end of the day.

“That should not be a reason.

“He believes he knows better than anyone else at the football club but he has only been involved in the game for a few years.

“A football club is not like any other business but he doesn’t seem to understand that.

“It seems to be a case of ‘forget about the history, the 100 years of tradition, I will do what I want’.

“His comments just make you ask ‘what is going to happen next? Where is it going to end?’.

“Chairmen, managers, players and staff all come and go at a football club but fans always remain.

“They are the most important people because they are there for life. It is as simple as that.

“All I know is that fans do not want to lose the tradition or love for their club. Traditions are more important than almost anything else.

“When all those are gone there is nothing that can be done. You are not Cardiff City anymore, you are not the Bluebirds.

“There are certain things you cannot mess with. It is like having a car and taking the wheels off. You can’t drive it without the wheels.”





Vincent Tan's influence over Cardiff City began in May, 2010


Despite the ongoing off-field turmoil, the Bluebirds remain in a remarkably healthy position at the top of the Championship.

Mackay’s team sit eight points clear of their nearest rivals with a game in hand heading into the final two months of the season.

And Blake believes all focus should be on ensuring Tan’s and the supporters’ dream of Premier football is realised.

“Even if these plans were in place for the future, to bring them up now is pointless and disruptive,” he said.

“This will kick up dust for the manager and the players at the most important time possible for the team.

“We are eight points clear with 13 games to go and I just do not understand this at the most important time for the club.

“He is antagonising the fans.

“On the one hand you cannot argue with the investment he has put in and the good work he has done. But he is ripping down all that good work.”

Blake is unsure how the majority of fans will react to the latest rebranding controversy, having been surprised by the way most have embraced the change from blue to red.

“I have been a little bit surprised by how little fuss has been made so far.

“We all saw with the scarf giveaway that the majority of fans were onboard.

“I suppose the fans will vote with their feet. If there are changes and 25,000 people still walk through the door next season, you have your answer.

“But I think this is now going to come to a head with fans,” he added.



Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2MFBotXkr

First time i've heard Nathan Blake talk sense in his column, but he's spot on this time.

I don't really like Nathan Blake, but he's right with this one!

Good words Blakey.

Blake urged the Malaysian billionaire not to “rip down the good work he has done” and insisted his comments were not helping Malky Mackay and his team’s bid for promotion.

Blake would know all about that with the nonsense he talks.

Drops Hudson of the captaincy I can't take him seriously after that.

Funny, but I feel the same way about you.

Jason Perry has had his say -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21624957

well said nathan blake

He is speaking what most of our board are thinking. But they won't challenge VT.