Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:00 pm
Fans comment: Cardiff City's next big signing should be a contract extension for Malky Mackay
Malky Mackay deserves a long deal at Cardiff City
By Scott Johnson | 9 Aug 2013 13:53
Cardiff’s patient, considered approach to the shark-infested waters of the transfer market as a Premier League outfit has caused consternation amongst fans.
With the start of the season a week away, only four senior players have been recruited while deficiencies and inexperience remain in a talented young squad. Despite earning promotion in April and the luxury of time to identify targets, small clubs always have to wait until bigger clubs have their fill.
The Tom Ince and Etienne Capoue sagas exemplify that players are often willing to bide their time and wait for seemingly bigger and better opportunities.
Whether or not Malky has wasted time pursuing unrealistic targets is open to debate, but the quality of the players he has secured thus far cannot be questioned. This should come as no surprise to anyone, as he has been largely faultless during his two years in charge.
Surely the best news of the summer was Everton’s appointment of Roberto Martinez, which ended speculation linking Mackay with the position. He is without doubt Cardiff’s greatest asset and had he left, the effect would have devastated both the summer and prospects for the coming season.
Malky did his best to bat away speculation without closing any doors, which is understandable, but the club’s reluctance to reward him with a new deal is baffling.
He initially signed for the club on a rolling one-year deal in June 2011. Having lost 12 players, he brought in 10 and exceeded all expectations. The deal was upgraded the following February to a three and a half year deal, ahead of the Carling Cup Final.
Since then, he has led Cardiff to the play-offs and rebuffed interest from Norwich last summer. In relation to the Carrow Road post, Malky claimed: “I have started a project at Cardiff City, I am fully committed to our club and the challenges ahead.”
Last year, he reinforced the squad, navigated the fall-out from the rebrand plus the pressure of expectation and past failures to secure the Championship title. He may well have been afforded a huge transfer kitty to secure promotion, but money is no guarantee of success and he deserves all the credit and accolades he has since received.
He may have a few years remaining on his current deal, but with new players signed on 4-year deals, surely it makes sense to top up Mackay’s contract, with the requisite clauses regarding potential compensation.
Grilled on links with the Everton post as a pundit Match of the Day, "It's certainly very flattering to be linked to such a job like that but I've got something that we've built and we're really looking forward to coming into the Premier League. I've got an awful lot of hard work over the summer."
Adored by fans and respected by the players, his achievements and endeavour warrant greater appreciation and a bumper new deal from Vincent Tan.
*Scott's book ‘The Blues Are Up – Cardiff City’s Rise to the Premier League’, is out on Tuesday, through Y Lolfa. Click here to buy