WO: HAMMAM NOT IN LINE FOR RETURN TO CARDIFF CITY BOARD

But yesterday
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=117990

Controversial former Cardiff City chief Sam Hammam is highly unlikely to return to the club's board, WalesOnline understands.

Club owner Vincent Tan last week insisted a deal with Hammam to finally settle the £24m Langston debt was just 'days away', raising the prospect of the former Bluebirds chief making a return to the Welsh capital in some capacity.

A series of talks have been held in recent months, with a number of options discussed, but it is understood a place on the board is not a route the club intend to go down.

However, some sort of advisory role to Tan, or a position similar to that of honorary life president has not been ruled out.

A Cardiff board meeting is being held today, where Hammam's name and the situation regarding the Langston debt are certain to figure in discussions.

An unconfirmed newspaper report this morning claimed Hammam's appointment in a key role was imminent, but respected director Steve Borley has denied any knowledge of such a move.

Quizzed by fans on Twitter, Borley was asked directly if he could confirm Hammam was returning, replying: 'not to my knowledge'.

When another supporter warned of a fans' backlash if Hamman did make a comeback, Borley replied: "Understand mate, but I don't see it happening."

Speaking as he was given an honorary doctorate at the University of South Wales last week, Tan said the imminent deal with Hammam would lead to him converting the money he is owed by the club into equity.

"We are talking to Sam Hammam to try and resolve the Langston issue. I'd like to regard him as my friend from our dealings," he said.

"We are days away from an agreement and then we can convert all the loans to equity.

"That will make us much more secure and hopefully debt free, which is good.

"That's my goal - to make the club debt-free, so that the club won't be under any threat and after that we just have to manage it prudently, run it like a business."

Asked to confirm the time-scale on any potential deal, he repeated: "We are days away, it is in Sam's hands."

Hammam took control of the Bluebirds in 2000 after leaving Wimbledon, controversially calling for the club to renamed the Cardiff Celts in an effort to get the whole of Wales behind them.

He oversaw a successful period on the field, with the Bluebirds returning to the second tier of English football in 2003. Hammam sold the club to a consortium led by Peter Ridsdale in 2006.

Tan has previously talked glowingly of Hamman's football knowledge, admitting just three months ago he could call on the Lebanese for advice as Cardiff enter a new era of Premier League football.

“He has a lot of knowledge of football clubs," Tan said.

"He brought Wimbledon up from nothing to the Premier League. He can even help me and advise me on football.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sam-hammam-not-line-return-5170151

So basically the Wales on line have put an article together based solely on some ramblings on Twitter where Steve Borley said nothing at all, mixed in with some old quotes from last week?

So basically the Wales on line have put an article together based solely on some ramblings on Twitter where Steve Borley said nothing at all, mixed in with some old quotes from last week?

Yep.

It's called cutting edge journalism.

I think Sam is in a strong position in some ways and there could be surprises ahead, but that is just my opinion not anything that I know for certain, just a feeling.

So basically the Wales on line have put an article together based solely on some ramblings on Twitter where Steve Borley said nothing at all, mixed in with some old quotes from last week?

Yep.

It's called cutting edge journalism.

Looks like the cutting edge journalism was bang on the money!