' Malky Malkay apologises to cardiff fans '

Thursday 17th Oct 2013

' Malky Mackay apologises to Cardiff City fans over off-pitch controversy '

Mackay speaks out for first time since future at Cardiff City was thrown into doubt by removal of his close ally Iain Moody

Malky Mackay has told bemused Cardiff City fans he knows how they are feeling – but has vowed recent controversy off the pitch will not spill onto it at Chelsea tomorrow.

Bluebirds boss Mackay’s future was thrown into doubt following the removal of his head of recruitment and close aide Iain Moody and his replacement with 23-year-old novice Alisher Apsalyamov.

But following a five-hour board meeting on Monday – which majority shareholder Vincent Tan joined via video link – Mackay remains in charge with his focus on tomorrow’s daunting Premier League trip to Chelsea.

But with fans left in the dark once more and the club hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Mackay said he regretted how recent events had impacted on those who follow the club.

“I do want to apologise to our supporters because I can understand completely what they have been going through,” said Mackay.

“I think that is needed. In the two-and-a-half years I have been here I feel I have forged a big bond with the fans and the people of Cardiff in general, they have been fantastic to me.

“So I feel I know what they have been going through. I do regret that their club has been thrown into the limelight for reasons other than our football.”

The Bluebirds were last in Premier League action nearly two weeks ago when they lost 2-1 at home to Newcastle and now face their toughest away day so far against Jose Mourinho’s star-studded Blues.

Many have been concerned what effect the doubt surrounding Mackay’s future might have on his players, but the Scot said his job now was to make sure they were fully focused on football matters.

“My job is to protect my players, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“As always I need to support them and make sure they are properly prepared and I will be continuing to do that.

“Our preparations this week, apart from the fact we have had an international break, have been exactly as they always are.

“We have procedures that we follow and nothing has been allowed to detract us from that.”

Mackay was handed a number of assurances by the club at Monday’s board meeting, including the fact that he would have the final say on all transfer dealings.

And Mackay said he was grateful to club chairman Mehmet Dalman for his role during the negotiations and believes moving forward he can have a productive relationship with the vastly-experienced businessman.

“I’m looking forward to a trusting and strong relationship with our chairman,” he said.

“He chaired the meeting in an excellent manner. You could tell he has chaired board meetings thousands of times and is used to doing it every day.

“He was very professional in his manner and I’m very thankful to him for that.

“I believe as a result of the meeting the club has implemented a number of actions which are going to prove beneficial to all involved now.”

Mystery still surrounds the exact reasons behind Moody’s departure but Mackay club Watford, said he would miss his colleague’s input at Cardiff.

Mackay added: “Everyone at Cardiff thought Ian was just a class act and were incredibly impressed by how he went about his daily business.

“It’s a case I feel now, that our loss is very much going to be someone else’s gain.”

some people might not agree with his tactics or how he sets up the team to defensively, but you can deny that Malky is a great man! always knows what to say and has passion for his job, and always thanks the fans

HE HAS NOTHING TO APOLOGISE FOR

Glad he's finally broken his silence, and reassured us that the team will be fully focused. He has nothing to apologise for though.

Glad he's finally broken his silence, and reassured us that the team will be fully focused. He has nothing to apologise for though.

Spot on and Malky we are fully behind you

HE HAS NOTHING TO APOLOGISE FOR

This!!!

Well said Malky and lets hope everyone gets behind him.

What a contrast between Tan and Malky
Tan is ignorant of football, erratic, flaky, sometimes downright stupid and guilty of saying the most idiotic things whereas as Malky comes over as knowledgable about football, solid, rational, consistent, professional and having integrity.

Well said Malky and lets hope everyone gets behind him.

MM has absolutely nothing to apologise for. He knows that and its another measure of the man deliberately making this statement to essentially assure the fans that despite the utter crazyness of the last two weeks events, that its business as usual on the pitch. Dalman was a key appointment, as he is now the 'C' Level reality buffer/voice of reason between the football business and VT. I suspect that he was appointed to handle precisely situations like this that were to be honest, inevitable and need to be managed. MM will use the events to galvanise the squad who I believe will now want it even more at Stamford Bridge.

Should be Tan and Lim apologising not Malky

malkay you are full off shit just like you said when you were asked would celtic like to play in blue..you are another tan puppet..get a back bone and say how it is

FairPlay Malky for waiting for this to blow over well the meeting then come out and speak.

After all that's happened, reading that from him sounds more positive than what people are still thinking now.

Also addressed future problems.

What the f**k is he apologising for, its that prick Vincent Tan who should be, utter prick!

It's the bloody rat tan that should apologize not malky, he's got nothing to apologize about CCFC fans are 100% behind malky

Should be Tan and Lim apologising not Malky

I don't know why Malky is apologising, He has remained thoroughly professional throughout the whole episode

Didnt he say if the club didnt tell everyone what happened then he will?

Hmmm

Glad he's finally broken his silence, and reassured us that the team will be fully focused. He has nothing to apologise for though.

Spot on and Malky we are fully behind you

MALKYS BARMY ARMY

Didnt he say if the club didnt tell everyone what happened then he will?

Hmmm

No he didn't Roathie...but his mouthpiece did...me thinks Malkay a clever one...and is keeping his powder dry on
the real issue.

Shows the kind of man Malky is. He has nothing to apologise for, yet he comes out and apologises and relates to fans. Where's Tan apology, he's the one that kicked all this off.

MALKYS BLUE AND WHITE ARMY!!!!!!

HE HAS NOTHING TO APOLOGISE FOR

this

I think this shows the class of Malky. He has apologised when he has nothing to apologise for. He is really is a top man who loves City fans

At least Malky has the balls to come out and say something. Easily could have avoided the questions in today's interview but he took them as they come and spoke well. Didn't slip up with any of the answers.

At least Malky has the balls to come out and say something. Easily could have avoided the questions in today's interview but he took them as they come and spoke well. Didn't slip up with any of the answers.

You know what, before that interview I thought Malkays Position had been strengthened...
Can you name any other premier league manager that will be sitting on ALL board meetings from now on in and will have the final say on ALL Transfers?...I can`t think of many....

HOWEVER, MALKAY has had the stuffing knocked out of him for sure....TAN has put a massive broadside across Malkays bows... THE only thing that will bolster MALKAYS POSITION AND CONFIDENCE NOW IS RESULTS.. nothing more nothing LESS....perhaps this was Tans Ploy all along.... ..

COME ON MALKAY...THE FIGHTBACK STARTS TOMORROW....