' Ken Choo Q&A '

The Ken Choo Cardiff City Q&A: There are reasons why we haven't signed players... we know what we are doing!


3 July 2015

By Chris Wathan


Cardiff City fans have many questions as Cardiff City's lack of transfer activity continues. Here, we put some of the key issues to CEO Ken Choo.

Ken Choo is a key man in Vincent Tan’s football empire. The former Berjaya Hotels and Resorts general manager is now Cardiff City chief executive, general manager of Belgian club KV Kortrijk and is involved in Tan’s new football venture in Los Angeles.

He joined the Bluebirds a year ago and is ready for a second full season in charge.

Choo chatted to WalesOnline journalist Terry Phillips about crucial issues at the club as he greeted City fans to the launch of the club’s new blue kit for 2015-16.

Q: What is the situation with new signings? Manager Russell Slade has only signed one player so far - defender Semi Ajayi from Arsenal.

KC: To be frank we are still reviewing players. We won’t rush in. It’s important to be careful and ensure we don’t make mistakes.

It’s easy to sign players, a lot of players, but we want the right players for Cardiff City. It’s no good rushing in, signing a dozen players, making errors and throwing money away.

There will be new players joining our squad for the new season and those who come in must be of the right calibre and quality.


We want players who add value to the team, not just any players.

Yes, we have been taking our time, studying every situation and making solid progress towards bringing in the players we need. There are still two months left in the transfer window and we will not rush in without a lot of thought.

We are on course to add the players we want and are not concerned. The target is to be absolutely ready by August 8.

We know what we are doing. We will be 100% ready for that Fulham match.


Q: How do you come to a decision on which players are right for Cardiff City?

KC: Vincent Tan, Mehmet Dalman, our manager Russell Slade and I are talking all the time, holding many, many meetings.

We know what we want and drew up a short list. Then, after a lot of research, we narrow that down further until we have the right few. Our job is to get it right on recruitment.

Q: What is the latest on players leaving the club?

KC: A departure is imminent. We have to trim the squad and are working towards that.

Q: Will Cardiff City be keeping their key players?

KC: Yes. We will keep key players who can help us move forward unless an offer is made that we simply can’t refuse.

Cardiff City is a business at the end of the day and we will consider any offer on its merits, but we are not looking to do that.

Whatever happens, whatever decisions are made, they will be for the good of our football club.

Q: Will Cardiff City have a team able to challenge for promotion?

KC: That is exactly what we are working towards. The target is promotion and if that wasn’t what we wanted to achieve, none of us would be here.

We have to get the squad right, the team right. The whole structure of this club has to be spot on and we are spending a lot of time making sure it’s right.

Promotion can be the result of what we do in preparation. We are building in every area of the club to ensure we are ready to challenge


The kit colour is now blue again, the club badge has changed, we reduced season ticket prices and we are trying to correct any mistakes.

Now we have launched a new Adidas home kit and that was available to supporters within 24 hours. We did that because we care about Cardiff City fans and will do our best for them by doing the right things.

Our owner, Vincent Tan, is totally behind us and wants to do the right thing for our club.

He is a genuine man who wants to do well for Cardiff City.

Posters on the outside of the stadium and new kit show our city is blue. He meant what he said, delivered what he said. Vincent Tan is a man of his word.
Q: Can you confirm that season ticket sales are currently around 10,000?

KC: That is correct. It could be better, of course, but this is a free country and we must work hard to bring in more. If Cardiff City do well in the Championship there will be more. We care about our fans and are doing a lot of things to help them.

Q: Cardiff City have not yet confirmed their pre-season fixtures to be played during the tour to Holland? What is happening?

KC: An announcement is close, extremely close. All agreements have been drafted for two matches and it won’t be long before everybody knows who we are playing.

Oh god more meetings

I listened to Terry asking Ken questions this morning.
It was right outside the club shop.
Terry doesn't hold back fair play. A grilling handled well.

Ken Choo "we know what we are doing". That will make a pleasant change. Perhaps things are looking up after all.

We're Cardiff City
We know what we're doing!

Starting to like this guy...speaks well and doesn't deny we have made many mistakes in the past

I listened to Terry asking Ken questions this morning.
It was right outside the club shop.
Terry doesn't hold back fair play. A grilling handled well.

Eddie, I came out of the club shop this morning and said hello to Terry and Ken Choo turned to me and started a conversation which I have put in another thread, he seems a very genuine guy and wants to get things right for us the fans, I feel that Tan is listening to Ken and that can only be a very good thing for our club

Starting to like this guy...speaks well and doesn't deny we have made many mistakes in the past

Exactly. Honest and that's all you can ask from anyone. He is admitting they made mistakes and are trying hard to put it right. I am feeling good about the future at the moment.

You didn't reduce my season ticket price Ken.

It increased.

They are clearly making amends but it seriously worries me that Choo, tan and Dalman are anywhere near picking the players we sign, they should control the budget and that's it. Non of them no football, it's ridiculous

I listened to Terry asking Ken questions this morning.
It was right outside the club shop.
Terry doesn't hold back fair play. A grilling handled well.

Eddie, I came out of the club shop this morning and said hello to Terry and Ken Choo turned to me and started a conversation which I have put in another thread, he seems a very genuine guy and wants to get things right for us the fans, I feel that Tan is listening to Ken and that can only be a very good thing for our club

We can only hope that the dark days are behind us now mate.
However, football is about results and entertainment.
Hopefully, last season's dross, was down to confused players,
Confused management and utterly confused fans.
If we pull together in the same direction then who knows......

We need leadership that we can trust, talks with ambition and positivity and doesn't bullshit.
Whether it be a player, a board man or slade.

I listened to Terry asking Ken questions this morning.
It was right outside the club shop.
Terry doesn't hold back fair play. A grilling handled well.

Eddie, I came out of the club shop this morning and said hello to Terry and Ken Choo turned to me and started a conversation which I have put in another thread, he seems a very genuine guy and wants to get things right for us the fans, I feel that Tan is listening to Ken and that can only be a very good thing for our club

We can only hope that the dark days are behind us now mate.
However, football is about results and entertainment.
Hopefully, last season's dross, was down to confused players,
Confused management and utterly confused fans.
If we pull together in the same direction then who knows......

We need leadership that we can trust, talks with ambition and positivity and doesn't bullshit.
Whether it be a player, a board man or slade.

spot on mate