England World Cup legend Sir Geoff Hurst has warned Cardiff City fans to be patient after their promotion to the Premier League.He also urged the club's owners to be cautious about spending too much money in their first year in the top flight.
And Hurst, who scored a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final, has fond memories of playing against Cardiff.
"It's just disappointing we've had to wait 51 years for them to come back [to the top flight]," he said.
Cardiff clinched promotion with a 0-0 draw at home to Charlton on Tuesday, claiming a place in English football's top flight for the first time since 1962.
Hurst believes they, like most promoted teams, will find it tough against the "big boys".
"It's going to be very difficult, let's make no bones about it," he said. "I think they've got to be careful about spending too much money.
"I think one or two clubs have come up in years gone by and spent a fortune and sometimes if you don't get it right and you go straight down it can put the club in further trouble.
"I think it's getting up, staying up and just a gradual improvement. The big thing against a club coming up [is] fans sometimes expect too much of all clubs, this isn't a criticism of Cardiff. But it's improving by one position a year.
"Everything's got to be right. The manager's got to be there, the team spirit's got to be good. I think you need to improve it a little bit but not go overboard."
Hurst recalled playing for West Ham against the Bluebirds the last time they were in the top flight, and an unorthodox role played by another England hero of '66.
"We played them at Easter '62 home and away," he said. "Martin Peters, my great World Cup colleague, made his debut against Cardiff and in one of the games he ended up in goal because the goalkeeper was injured!"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22208143