Cardiff City deny reports
Thu Oct 10, 2013 11:01 pm
BBC Report - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24465391
Cardiff City have denied reports they asked manager Malky Mackay to resign, BBC Wales Sport understands.
Mackay is believed to have been left shocked and angered by Cardiff's recent decision to suspend his right-hand man but is not prepared to quit.
The Premier League club have suspended head of recruitment Iain Moody and brought in 23-year-old Alisher Apsalyamov as his acting replacement.
They have yet to comment about the suspension of Moody.
In his scouting role, former Watford press officer Moody helped the Premier League newcomers sign summer recruits including Gary Medel from Sevilla and Steven Caulker from Tottenham.
Apsalyamov is not believed to have any experience in football and his appointment is the latest controversy in the reign of owner Vincent Tan.
Mackay at Cardiff
Mackay was appointed Cardiff City manager in June 2011, succeeding Dave Jones.
In Mackay's first season in charge Cardiff reached the Championship play-offs, but lost to West Ham in the semi-finals
Under his guidance Cardiff secured promotion to the Premier League last season, winning the Championship title by a margin of eight points
Tan caused consternation among many Cardiff fans during the summer of 2012 after changing the club's colours from blue to red, while there have been reports of dressing-room unrest over bonuses.
Cardiff City Supporters' Trust chairman Tim Hartley said recent developments and the appointment of Apsalyamov were of concern.
He was worried about the impact it would have on Mackay's position and said the club needed to issue an official statement.
"Fans want Malky Mackay - who has done a fantastic job as manager, taking the club to the Premier League - to remain at Cardiff City," Hartley said.
"We don't want to see any action taken to undermine his position as manager and Cardiff City's efforts to have a successful first season in the top division.
"There are fears that the current developments could drive Malky into the arms of another Premier League club and that would be hugely damaging for the Bluebirds.
"Malky is a talented manager who has huge respect among the fans for what he has delivered.
"Fans deserve a clear statement on the position from the club on what has been happening and Malky's position needs to be made perfectly clear."
Former England boss Graham Taylor, meanwhile, says he is bemused by recent developments.
"It is a very, very strange situation," said Taylor, who was Watford chairman and worked with Mackay and Moody at Vicarage Road.
"I cannot believe... the decision to replace Iain. I just cannot believe it.
Play media
Are Cardiff forcing Mackay out, asks Blake
"Whether your owner, chairman has kept you informed of all this, I cannot say. Only Malky will know that. From a distance it is very, very surprising."
"I think there is a distinct possibility of [Mackay leaving].
"On the face of it, if you are the manager of all things football... you are being usurped."
"It will be interesting to see what Malky's reaction is. I do hope this doesn't have an adverse reaction on the team's performance and results.
"He is the manager and he has just got the club into the Premier League after such a long time out of it.
"I don't think you will see any public tantrums from Malky or anything like that [but] I know he will be extremely upset and very disappointed."
Taylor says Mackay left Watford for Cardiff because of problems with the owner at Vicarage Road.
"Watford had problems with their owner as well," he said.
"It will be very interesting to see how he reacts because I honestly believe if Malky were to leave, it wouldn't be too long before he has another job somewhere else."
Cardiff City have denied reports they asked manager Malky Mackay to resign, BBC Wales Sport understands.
Mackay is believed to have been left shocked and angered by Cardiff's recent decision to suspend his right-hand man but is not prepared to quit.
The Premier League club have suspended head of recruitment Iain Moody and brought in 23-year-old Alisher Apsalyamov as his acting replacement.
They have yet to comment about the suspension of Moody.
In his scouting role, former Watford press officer Moody helped the Premier League newcomers sign summer recruits including Gary Medel from Sevilla and Steven Caulker from Tottenham.
Apsalyamov is not believed to have any experience in football and his appointment is the latest controversy in the reign of owner Vincent Tan.
Mackay at Cardiff
Mackay was appointed Cardiff City manager in June 2011, succeeding Dave Jones.
In Mackay's first season in charge Cardiff reached the Championship play-offs, but lost to West Ham in the semi-finals
Under his guidance Cardiff secured promotion to the Premier League last season, winning the Championship title by a margin of eight points
Tan caused consternation among many Cardiff fans during the summer of 2012 after changing the club's colours from blue to red, while there have been reports of dressing-room unrest over bonuses.
Cardiff City Supporters' Trust chairman Tim Hartley said recent developments and the appointment of Apsalyamov were of concern.
He was worried about the impact it would have on Mackay's position and said the club needed to issue an official statement.
"Fans want Malky Mackay - who has done a fantastic job as manager, taking the club to the Premier League - to remain at Cardiff City," Hartley said.
"We don't want to see any action taken to undermine his position as manager and Cardiff City's efforts to have a successful first season in the top division.
"There are fears that the current developments could drive Malky into the arms of another Premier League club and that would be hugely damaging for the Bluebirds.
"Malky is a talented manager who has huge respect among the fans for what he has delivered.
"Fans deserve a clear statement on the position from the club on what has been happening and Malky's position needs to be made perfectly clear."
Former England boss Graham Taylor, meanwhile, says he is bemused by recent developments.
"It is a very, very strange situation," said Taylor, who was Watford chairman and worked with Mackay and Moody at Vicarage Road.
"I cannot believe... the decision to replace Iain. I just cannot believe it.
Play media
Are Cardiff forcing Mackay out, asks Blake
"Whether your owner, chairman has kept you informed of all this, I cannot say. Only Malky will know that. From a distance it is very, very surprising."
"I think there is a distinct possibility of [Mackay leaving].
"On the face of it, if you are the manager of all things football... you are being usurped."
"It will be interesting to see what Malky's reaction is. I do hope this doesn't have an adverse reaction on the team's performance and results.
"He is the manager and he has just got the club into the Premier League after such a long time out of it.
"I don't think you will see any public tantrums from Malky or anything like that [but] I know he will be extremely upset and very disappointed."
Taylor says Mackay left Watford for Cardiff because of problems with the owner at Vicarage Road.
"Watford had problems with their owner as well," he said.
"It will be very interesting to see how he reacts because I honestly believe if Malky were to leave, it wouldn't be too long before he has another job somewhere else."