" THE BIG QUESTION/SHOULD VINCENT TAN/RUSSELL SLADE? "
Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:22 pm
Cardiff City: Should Vincent Tan and Russell Slade spend or save?
By Rob Phillips
BBC Wales football correspondent
Thurs 23rd April 2015
More austerity or a loosening of the purse strings? It's a choice not only faced by voters in the general election.
It is at the heart of a dilemma faced by Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan at the close of a disappointing season.
The Bluebirds have operated both policies under their Malaysian backer and the club now sit in mid-table, well short of their top six target.
Tan spent heavily to finance promotion to the Premier League, an unsuccessful campaign to stay there and sanctioned heavy recruitment last summer for then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Since promotion back to the top flight has looked unlikely this season, cost-cutting has dominated the agenda. Manager Russell Slade has had to slash the wage bill by about £12m.
Slade memorably said the club no longer shops at Harrods. It was a figure of speech, but one caller to my phone-in show on BBC Radio Wales "Call Rob" even said the club is now recruiting at food banks.
Certainly the January recruitment, compared to the same window in 2013-14, reflected the austerity, as did the surprise loans of defender Matt Connolly and striker Kenwyne Jones to Championship rivals for ''business'' considerations.
Of course, it should not be overlooked that Tan is sustaining the club financially.
The club's latest accounts, for the year ending May 2014, showed the Bluebirds owed about £174m - most of it to Tan.
The annual report said support from Malaysian investors would continue as long as "the business develops as planned.''
Presumably the plan is to return to the Premier League as soon as possible.
Other factors will surely come into play as Tan decides whether to maintain a tight rein on expenditure or speculates to accumulate.
The parachute payments a club receives following relegation from the top flight to the Championship are spread over four years. But they drop dramatically after the second season in the second tier - and that's where Cardiff will be this season.
In contrast, the rewards for promotion next season will be more lucrative than ever, as the record-breaking new multi-billion pound Premier League television deal kicks in for the 2016-17 campaign.
If there was an ideal time to get promotion, then next season is it.
By Rob Phillips
BBC Wales football correspondent
Thurs 23rd April 2015
More austerity or a loosening of the purse strings? It's a choice not only faced by voters in the general election.
It is at the heart of a dilemma faced by Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan at the close of a disappointing season.
The Bluebirds have operated both policies under their Malaysian backer and the club now sit in mid-table, well short of their top six target.
Tan spent heavily to finance promotion to the Premier League, an unsuccessful campaign to stay there and sanctioned heavy recruitment last summer for then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Since promotion back to the top flight has looked unlikely this season, cost-cutting has dominated the agenda. Manager Russell Slade has had to slash the wage bill by about £12m.
Slade memorably said the club no longer shops at Harrods. It was a figure of speech, but one caller to my phone-in show on BBC Radio Wales "Call Rob" even said the club is now recruiting at food banks.
Certainly the January recruitment, compared to the same window in 2013-14, reflected the austerity, as did the surprise loans of defender Matt Connolly and striker Kenwyne Jones to Championship rivals for ''business'' considerations.
Of course, it should not be overlooked that Tan is sustaining the club financially.
The club's latest accounts, for the year ending May 2014, showed the Bluebirds owed about £174m - most of it to Tan.
The annual report said support from Malaysian investors would continue as long as "the business develops as planned.''
Presumably the plan is to return to the Premier League as soon as possible.
Other factors will surely come into play as Tan decides whether to maintain a tight rein on expenditure or speculates to accumulate.
The parachute payments a club receives following relegation from the top flight to the Championship are spread over four years. But they drop dramatically after the second season in the second tier - and that's where Cardiff will be this season.
In contrast, the rewards for promotion next season will be more lucrative than ever, as the record-breaking new multi-billion pound Premier League television deal kicks in for the 2016-17 campaign.
If there was an ideal time to get promotion, then next season is it.
Re: " THE BIG QUESTION/SHOULD VINCENT TAN/RUSSELL SLADE? "
Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:27 pm
Sack I'd prefer
Re: " THE BIG QUESTION/SHOULD VINCENT TAN/RUSSELL SLADE? "
Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:27 pm
Save. Continue to cost-cut but give the academy boys a go
Re: " THE BIG QUESTION/SHOULD VINCENT TAN/RUSSELL SLADE? "
Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:52 pm
BlueSince1908 wrote:Save. Continue to cost-cut but give the academy boys a go
Agree
Re: " THE BIG QUESTION/SHOULD VINCENT TAN/RUSSELL SLADE? "
Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:58 pm
The clock is ticking and a new Manager should be in now otherwise it will be in Oct/Nov or Dec and the Club will be wasting yet another season.
Tesco and now Sainsburys have huge losses and set to make changes.
Come on City you know it makes sense
Re: " THE BIG QUESTION/SHOULD VINCENT TAN/RUSSELL SLADE? "
Thu Apr 23, 2015 4:09 pm
Damage is done!
Cost cutting has taken place, with probably more to come?
Slade has brought in some players who simply aren't good enough, if he stays and continues with his policy we get worse and more fans leave meaning less revenue.
If he goes and a manager is given some cash to spend, he will want rid of most of Slade's recruits meaning additional transition and increased debt?
It's a double edged sword, a mess on the pitch whichever way we look at it & a bigger mess off it.
Cost cutting has taken place, with probably more to come?
Slade has brought in some players who simply aren't good enough, if he stays and continues with his policy we get worse and more fans leave meaning less revenue.
If he goes and a manager is given some cash to spend, he will want rid of most of Slade's recruits meaning additional transition and increased debt?
It's a double edged sword, a mess on the pitch whichever way we look at it & a bigger mess off it.
Re: " THE BIG QUESTION/SHOULD VINCENT TAN/RUSSELL SLADE? "
Thu Apr 23, 2015 11:34 pm
Valley Lad wrote:Damage is done!
Cost cutting has taken place, with probably more to come?
Slade has brought in some players who simply aren't good enough, if he stays and continues with his policy we get worse and more fans leave meaning less revenue.
If he goes and a manager is given some cash to spend, he will want rid of most of Slade's recruits meaning additional transition and increased debt?
It's a double edged sword, a mess on the pitch whichever way we look at it & a bigger mess off it.
Spot On .
Re: " THE BIG QUESTION/SHOULD VINCENT TAN/RUSSELL SLADE? "
Fri Apr 24, 2015 6:29 am
TopCat CCFC wrote:Valley Lad wrote:Damage is done!
Cost cutting has taken place, with probably more to come?
Slade has brought in some players who simply aren't good enough, if he stays and continues with his policy we get worse and more fans leave meaning less revenue.
If he goes and a manager is given some cash to spend, he will want rid of most of Slade's recruits meaning additional transition and increased debt?
It's a double edged sword, a mess on the pitch whichever way we look at it & a bigger mess off it.
Spot On .
it's a very good point, is anyone else shocked by how many signings Slade has actually made? This was a real opportunity for the youngsters to get there chance. An opportunity blocked by 'Sladeplodders' The average, the uninspiring.