' Cardiff City must tell fans the full story, or Malky will'

Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay's camp speak out and warn: 'Club must tell fans the full story, or Malky will'
13 Oct 2013


Mackay's agent sends out warning ahead of Monday's board meeting, claims Vincent Tan and other board members do not support the Scot and reveals the manager fears his good work is in danger of unravelling


Malky Mackay’s future as Cardiff City manager could be decided at Bluebirds’ crisis talks on Monday.

Mackay will be present at a club board meeting where the extraordinary events of the past week will be discussed.

The Scot’s position has been thrown into doubt since the shock departure of his trusted lieutenant Iain Moody.

The club’s head of recruitment – who worked closely alongside Mackay in signing players during the Scot’s two-year reign in South Wales – was replaced by Alisher Apsalyamov, a 23-year-old Kazakh without any known football experience.

Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan went on record with his support of Mackay when the club finally broke their silence on the Moody affair on Friday.

But Mackay will seek assurances from the Cardiff City hierarchy at today’s board meeting and urge the club to tell supporters what has been going on.

Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan
And Raymond Sparkes, Mackay’s agent of the past 23 years, says the Scot will do so himself if the club is not forthcoming on the matter.

But Sparkes, speaking exclusively to WalesOnline ahead of the board meeting, insisted his client has no intention of resigning from his position.

Sparkes said: “From the word go Malky’s concern has not been for himself, it is for the club itself.

“He is deeply concerned that what was being built at Cardiff City, the momentum being built over the last two years, is in danger of unravelling.

“Malky is basically trying to protect what he has achieved at Cardiff City and is not worried about himself so much.

“He completely understands the anxiety that must be building among the club’s supporters.

“He believes nothing has been explained to the fans in what has been going on for a number of days now.

“Malky understands there has been a lack of clarity and will insist at the end of the board meeting that the chairman or other senior directors provide supporters with a clear explanation of what has been going on.

“If that cannot be done he will take it upon himself to do it.

“He does not want the club’s fans left in the dark for too much longer.”


Sparkes said Mackay is aware that supporters are concerned about his own situation, the 41-year-old among the most successful and popular managers in Bluebirds’ history.

Mackay – who joined from Watford in the summer of 2011 – led Cardiff to the League Cup final and the Championship play-offs in his first season.

The following season the Bluebirds were promoted as Championship champions, ending a 51-year exile in the top flight of English football.

And City have made a decent start in their inaugural Premier League season, taking eight points from seven games and claiming the scalp of title favourites Manchester City.

“Malky does not want to talk about himself too much right now, but he is aware the biggest question that many people have is what is the manager’s current situation,” said Sparkes.

“He knows everyone wants him to stay and he says ‘yes he will do that’.

“But he needs certain assurances at the meeting that these things will be better as we move forward.

“Malky has been overwhelmed by the amount of support he has had, both locally and nationally, from different sports and the business world.

“The situation at Cardiff is that if you say there are 100 people working at the club today we are certain 95 of them support the manager.

“The five remaining people, one of whom, of course, is the owner Vincent Tan and the others who will take the lead of Mr Tan and dance to his tune.

“In the meeting we will be seeking to find out the support from Vincent Tan to Malky moving into the future.

“We have to feel the climate is right to be able to move things forward.

“We know there are three of four doubting Thomases and Malky is aware right now there is not 100% support for him in the club.”

Gallery: We rate the signings Mackay and Iain Moody made together


Sparkes insists Mackay’s main aim on Monday is to clarify his position following the removal of Moody.

“Malky is not going to into the board meeting emotionally,” said Sparkes.

“He will be reporting three or four facts that he believes the chairman (Mehmet Dalman), in particular, and the senior directors will not be aware of.

“Malky’s main aim is to seek and clarify his position at the club moving forward.

“We would like to make it totally clear that Malky has no intention of resigning.

“He feels he has made a genuine bond with the club, the city of Cardiff and the people of the city, particularly the Bluebirds’ supporters.

“He just wishes to be given the chance to continue with the job he has started and continue the journey he started with Cardiff City more than two years ago.

“He will go into the meeting with an open mind and will be seeking assurances about his concerns of his relationship with the owner and, hopefully, he will get those assurances.”

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Positives in there for us but how much of it is true?

Hmmmmm

Oh oh this is gonna be a massive massive day in the history of our club.
I'm bricking it for what tomorrow brings

I think he will be gone by this time tomorrow.

In Malky we trust, far more concerned personally about these events than any of the fuss based around the rebrand fiasco.
Tan wont know what's hit him if he fucks this up with Malky, we never have it easy at Cardiff, and I often wonder why people just can't enjoy the good times, and then the rug gets tugged again and I remember, it's no wonder we all borderline Bi polar, roller coaster, yeh OK, roller coaster with f*cking rockets strapped to it.

Praying for some sense and positivity tomorrow.

I really fear by this time tomorrow Malky may have walked or been pushed, I really hope not though

Personally I believe we will now either be blue next season or we will be no more!

Can't see Tan being happy about Malky threatening to reveal all to the fans if Tan won't do so - a direct challenge to Tan's authority.

I also feel that Malky may be gone very soon - and not because he'll have resigned.

A good, hard working professional man who is being put in an extremely awkward position by someone who is seeming more like an egotistical dictator every day.

After the problems with the owners he had at Watford, and now this, Malky must be wondering when his luck is going to change!

Hope the club don't forgot there is a small game next Saturday that needs attention and preperation

MM doesn't read the forum. Nor does VT. I bet their networks do though. Thanks for appointing him VT. Inspired. Best thing to ever happen to this club. Don't fuck-it-up.

If there is not 100% backing for Malky in the club at the moment then either he has to go or those who do not support him have to go.

Unfortunately, as it seems that one of those who doesn't support him is Vincent Tan, Malky's time with us looks like it's coming to an end.

Even though this has come through Malky's agent, it is the first sign of strength from any party involved throughout this situation.

No doubt Malky and Raymond will have spoken and worded this very carefully.

If Malky decides his time is up or Tan pushes him then Vincent Tan will face a wrath from City fans and no matter how many threats of 'I will walk away and take my money with me!' will not wash with the fans.

I pray Malky is still manager when we play Chelsea.

Even though this has come through Malky's agent, it is the first sign of strength from any party involved throughout this situation.

No doubt Malky and Raymond will have spoken and worded this very carefully.

If Malky decides his time is up or Tan pushes him then Vincent Tan will face a wrath from City fans and no matter how many threats of 'I will walk away and take my money with me!' will not wash with the fans.

I pray Malky is still manager when we play Chelsea.

Carl there is no way this can be resolved in my opinion. Malky has had his last game as our manager.

I agree with you about the wording of the piece too. There was a definite intentional use of the word BLUEBIRDS.

I honestly think Tan's time is up now too. I think either he sells up or he liquidates us.

This time next we week we'll have a groundsman in charge of the club.

These following quotes are the ones that stand out to me.


* “He is deeply concerned that what was being built at Cardiff City, the momentum being built over the last two years, is in danger of unravelling."

* “The situation at Cardiff is that if you say there are 100 people working at the club today we are certain 95 of them support the manager.

* “The five remaining people, one of whom, of course, is the owner Vincent Tan and the others who will take the lead of Mr Tan and dance to his tune."

* “We know there are three of four doubting Thomases and Malky is aware right now there is not 100% support for him in the club.”

Nah. None of this. MM knows all too well all the naive cash-rich football club owner syndrome that has plagued the game for the last 15 years and that itself is part of the pro-football business scenario. Venkys Syndrome. Its moved on. VT walks away sees loss of face and Ta Ta to millions. Possibly. He's not mega-rich and he knows it. I think that Mehmet Dalman will fill the gap here in terms of reality. Something like this was always going to happen and its actually happened at a point where we are strong i.e. not poor results and grim outlook despite investment. Its the timing that is interesting here as we are in the ascendancy and the underdog darlings of the PL. I am no closer to this than anyone else but my middle-age dogged experience and years in the City says follow the money. If Dalman is indeed the banker who is also football then there's your answer. MM's going nowhere and VT hopefully gets his Reality Cheque. Sort it out you clowns.

I honestly think this is many fans "tipping point" if malky goes I think tan will be shocked at the amount of vitrol coming his way and about time too the bloke is a grade A cuunt

Could be the beginning of the end for Cardiff City.

If this statement is true, then well played Malky.

Why? Well, it's forcing Tan's hand on the subject. You tell the story or I will.

I don't believe Malky wants to still be here now at the circus with those around him dismantling his good work and this will give him his way out with the payoff he deserves for what he has done for this club.

Tan so far, according to reports, wanted Malky to resign so he wouldn't have to pay him off.

I think Malky will finally get what he wants in the forthcoming days.

1) To be sacked - he'll get another job easily the way we walked to the Championship title last year
2) To get his pay off

He'll go with my full blessing not only for what he's done but for turning the screw and not being bullied.

If this statement is true, then well played Malky.

Why? Well, it's forcing Tan's hand on the subject. You tell the story or I will.

I don't believe Malky wants to still be here now at the circus with those around him dismantling his good work and this will give him his way out with the payoff he deserves for what he has done for this club.

Tan so far, according to reports, wanted Malky to resign so he wouldn't have to pay him off.

I think Malky will finally get what he wants in the forthcoming days.

1) To be sacked - he'll get another job easily the way we walked to the Championship title last year
2) To get his pay off

He'll go with my full blessing not only for what he's done but for turning the screw and not being bullied.

Malky is and always will be a legend at this club whatever happens tomorrow. This statement has done nothing but enhance that.

People who are gonna stop supporting the club because of some defensive minded Scot who would have fucked off to Everton/Norwich if ever offered the job are just silly

Can't really see no way back from here, Unless Mehmet buys Tan out.

Nah. None of this. MM knows all too well all the naive cash-rich football club owner syndrome that has plagued the game for the last 15 years and that itself is part of the pro-football business scenario. Venkys Syndrome. Its moved on. VT walks away sees loss of face and Ta Ta to millions. Possibly. He's not mega-rich and he knows it. I think that Mehmet Dalman will fill the gap here in terms of reality. Something like this was always going to happen and its actually happened at a point where we are strong i.e. not poor results and grim outlook despite investment. Its the timing that is interesting here as we are in the ascendancy and the underdog darlings of the PL. I am no closer to this than anyone else but my middle-age dogged experience and years in the City says follow the money. If Dalman is indeed the banker who is also football then there's your answer. MM's going nowhere and VT hopefully gets his Reality Cheque. Sort it out you clowns.

'Follow the money' That's what DeepThroat told Bob Woodward.good advice, though!

People who are gonna stop supporting the club because of some defensive minded Scot who would have fucked off to Everton/Norwich if ever offered the job are just silly

It's not that mate. Managers come and go, but Tan has shown that he is more than willing to meddle in team affairs. I also think that the appointment of the kazhak painter was an absolute piss take and he is basically saying I am doing this because I can!

If Malky comes out and says damning things about Tan after he has gone, would you believe tans side of the story or malky? I know who I would believe

People who are gonna stop supporting the club because of some defensive minded Scot who would have fucked off to Everton/Norwich if ever offered the job are just silly

It's not that mate. Managers come and go, but Tan has shown that he is more than willing to meddle in team affairs. I also think that the appointment of the kazhak painter was an absolute piss take and he is basically saying I am doing this because I can!
If Malky comes out and says damning things about Tan after he has gone, would you believe tans side of the story or malky? I know who I would believe

And how do you know that to be true?? Nobody knows the real truth about tan and moody, it could be black and white I.e. I'll give you the extra expenditure but expect xyz results... This didn't happen so his job was on the line. As for the kazhak painter, nobody can confirm if this is a permanent change or just temporary until someone else is found... Why is everyone getting so involved without knowing the facts is beyond me!

This statement just before the meeting tomorrow tells me malky wants out .malky usually keeps things in house but the gloves are off now and there's only one outcome.Tan wants malky out aswell and that's what will happen this week.

Sorry it's all doom and gloom but that's the way i see it

MALKY MACKAY.

POSSIBLY THE GREATEST MANAGER WE EVER LOST.

The Doubting Thomases

1. Tan
2. Lim
3. Borat
4. ?
5. ?

I see some parallels with the situation at Liverpool. Suarez, basically called Rodgers a liar. Tan has undermined Malky.

For those of you who are old enough, can you imagine the likes of Shankly, Clough, Revie ETC, or in more recent times Ferguson, putting up with that sort of crap? I rate Malky highly, and respect his integrity, I wouldn't be surprised to see him walk. If he does, it'll be an enormous blow, and disrupt what has been so far, a fairly positive start to life in the PL.

I like the fact that 10% of the PL are Welsh, as long as we finish above you. I shall watch the outcome of tomorrows meeting closely, but if I were you lot, I'd not worry too much, as these things seem to happen with monotonous regularity. If this carries on you'll soon be known as the Teflon Bluebirds.

I see some parallels with the situation at Liverpool. Suarez, basically called Rodgers a liar. Tan has undermined Malky.

For those of you who are old enough, can you imagine the likes of Shankly, Clough, Revie ETC, or in more recent times Ferguson, putting up with that sort of crap? I rate Malky highly, and respect his integrity, I wouldn't be surprised to see him walk. If he does, it'll be an enormous blow, and disrupt what has been so far, a fairly positive start to life in the PL.

I like the fact that 10% of the PL are Welsh, as long as we finish above you. I shall watch the outcome of tomorrows meeting closely, but if I were you lot, I'd not worry too much, as these things seem to happen with monotonous regularity. If this carries on you'll soon be known as the Teflon Bluebirds.

Oh so you know whats happened at the club then?

care to enlighten us?