CCFC TRUST MAKES A STATEMENT:

CCFC TRUST ( 200 Members )

The Trust Board has sent the following commentary on the minutes of the meeting between the Fans’ Advisory Board (FAB) and Cardiff City FC management.

Dear Member

You will have received by now a link to the minutes of the last Fans Advisory Board (FAB) meeting with club. Normally these meetings take place every three months but in the light of our relegation to League 1 and subsequent statements by the Club an urgent FAB meeting was called to discuss the situation. Normally, Steve Borley is the nominated Board representative who attends meetings with the FAB but, given the circumstances, Mehmet Dalman and Ken Choo also attended.

It is worth mentioning from the outset that members of the FAB operate under an agreed Memorandum of Understanding. It is a comprehensive document but one of the strictures imposed on members is that they are not allowed to publicise any of the items discussed until the publication of the agreed minutes. The minutes are taken by a club official and submitted to the FAB for their agreement. The minutes are then subject to final approval by the club and are then made public. It must be noted that the FAB pushed for a prompt production of the minutes by the club, something that has not been a feature of previous meetings. An undertaking was given that at least a bullet point summary of the meeting would be produced within 48 hours. The minutes were eventually produced on May 23, some 11 days after the event. Now that the minutes have been made public the Trust Board can take a view of the proceedings and give Trust Members their take on what was said.

Members will recall that, on April 29, the club board released a statement, acknowledging the public statement by the Trust on April 27 which raised a number of issues including the lack of specific football expertise at board level and the strategic decision making process which appears to be solely in the hands of the owner. These are matters that have been brought up by the Trust at meetings with the Chairman and Chief Executive on many occasions and are undoubtedly a major factor in our new situation in League 1.

In their statement of April 29 the club committed to a “thorough period of review across several structures and practices”. It went on to say that the process would culminate in the appointment of a new manager and management team. We are anxious to understand the extent of this review. It was noticeable that there was no mention of introducing football expertise at board level, Director of Football or whatever in the statement and we take the view that this is essential to equip the club to meet the challenges of regaining our place in the Championship and onward.

The meeting of the FAB was the first opportunity since relegation to question the club on these issues since relegation.

The responses to the questions regarding next season’s strategy and finances were informative and, on the face of it, largely positive. The information about relegation clauses in players’ contracts is something that eases the financial situation now that the worst has happened.

In our view the question of footballing expertise at board level in connection with the review was not answered as positively as we would have liked. Firstly, Mehmet Dalman stated that the board if Cardiff City is “unique” in that it cannot decide anything significant without reference to the owner. The minutes make it sound as if this uniqueness is a proud boast whereas our view is that it is a major weakness in Corporate Governance of the club. Mehmet Dalman goes on to say that he would welcome more football expertise but introduced caveats, perhaps to temper expectation. Mehmet Dalman goes on to talk up the football experience of Steve Borley and himself in all the years they have been involved in football. We have no doubt that the empirical knowledge they have gained through years of experience is of great use, but we would need to be persuaded that they have the detailed football expertise to introduce an over arching strategy to revolutionise the way Cardiff City is run from the football point of view.

The club statement of April 29 referred to the involvement of stakeholders in the review. Well, fans are stakeholders and speaking to our members and other fans groups the need for football expertise at board level is a widely held view. If, as a result of the review, the question of football expertise is not addressed then fans would need a reasoned justification as to why and not just the fact that the owner feels that he has been taken for a ride, financially, by some previous managers.

In respect of the recruitment process of the new manager, we feel that the appointment of external football expertise to assist is a necessity. On the other hand it is condemnation of the current situation whereby the Board is not sufficiently qualified to make an appointment, unlike other clubs. That is not a criticism of the board members but more of the intransigence of the owner.

Our concern is that the experts the club have employed will produce a short list of potential managers with a recommendation that the owner may ignore for reasons best known to himself.

The question of retaining the current popular Bluebird badge on team shirts was raised. It comes as no surprise that it was confirmed that the current badge was a one off for the 125 season and that the club crest would return. Club Crest is an interesting description of the badge. It makes it sound more grandiose than it is. Heraldic it certainly isn’t. Keeping the Bluebird badge would be a small and inexpensive crumb to throw to a disaffected fanbase but no, we get the universally unpopular badge back.

The Trust raised the question in its public statement about the absence of the owner at club games. It was raised again by the FAB and Mehmet Dalman undertook to pass on the request to Vincent Tan. We are not holding our breath but look forward to being surprised.

It is our view that the appointment of the new manager is going to be critical and we would hope that he plus other football experts have a significant input to the review to put us back on the road to where we need to be. However, the inclusion of football expertise at board level will be at the behest of the owner and it is not easy to be confident that it will happen. Also, whilst intent seems to exist to reform the footballing side of the Club, it is difficult to envisage any changes in respect of Corporate Governance.

There’s not much for Cardiff City fans to be happy about at the moment, but we hope for positive developments whereby the owner will allow the board the leeway to put in place, in the way the club is run, the sort of improvements that will take Cardiff City in the right direction. “We hear you” was a sentiment expressed in the end of season club statement. Well, it remains to be seen, Vincent Tan having heard us, whether these are empty words.


Keith Morgan.

The Board of Cardiff City Supporters Trust

Don’t forget Keith Morgan is in charge of the Trust and on the FAB Committee unbelievable

I suppose at least they've been a bit critical of the club.

But remember that Keith Morgan was in this meeting and could have made these comments straight after or said it directly to the people at the meeting (assuming he hasn't).

He's right things are not being run well but unfortunately a lot of the supporter representatives have danced to the club's tune for too long.

So the people running the club have had it far too easy when there should have been strong criticism a lot earlier.

To be honest I'm a very passionate fan for 46 years .
I just don't believe a word this lot say anymore .Tan is and will always be the man who decides every while listening to nobody. What you all need to understand is even if we did have a a DOF he wouldn't listen.
Just so fed up of all the amateur direction from Tan.
I'm personally scared to death of what he will do next.
As long as he is here this will never stop .
It's our club and he's just messing around with it .
A total frustration for me personally and I've had a guts full of it all .I had a guts full from the re brand it's all just made ccfc an absolute joke people don't take ccfc seriously now with Tan in control and for very good reason

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

The one recurring thing was everything is down to Tan and no one else! The other thing they've acknowledged is the new manager must have good backroom staff which I presume means no purse ect ....maybe this is what the extra outside help is for? The reference about football experience is correct in so far as Borley and Dalman have man years footballing experience many deride Dalman but he knows football finance and most things relating to running a club
better than Tan and Borley knows what fans want and need.... unfortunately none of this matters if tan is going to be pig headed and live in fantasy football manager world of his and ignore what others say....but we live in hope they get it right this season.

So Tan has employed people to do a job.
Pays them I'd imagine, quite well to do their jobs.
But they cannot do their jobs without getting Tans approval for every football related decision when they all work at a football club.

So what we have here is a severe case of micro management by an individual who admittedly knows f**k all about football.

And we wonder why we are in this mess?

Anyone who has worked as part of a unionised workforce or as a rep or anyone dealing with a toxic employer will have first hand knowledge of what it's like dealing with micro management.
The effect it has in the working environment and staff morale.

If you Google "what is the worst type of management system/structure" have a look at the responses.


Lack of Autonomy, Fear based motivation, suppressed creative freedom, inaffective team building, poor communication, micromanaging,lack of feedback, Lack of empathy.

All of which are readily recognised by fans of this club and no doubt the staff within the club and most likely current board members too.

I mean the solution is very simple, and I'm sure I don't have to spell it out for anyone on here.

To be honest I'm a very passionate fan for 46 years .
I just don't believe a word this lot say anymore .Tan is and will always be the man who decides every while listening to nobody. What you all need to understand is even if we did have a a DOF he wouldn't listen.
Just so fed up of all the amateur direction from Tan.
I'm personally scared to death of what he will do next.
As long as he is here this will never stop .
It's our club and he's just messing around with it .
A total frustration for me personally and I've had a guts full of it all .I had a guts full from the re brand it's all just made ccfc an absolute joke people don't take ccfc seriously now with Tan in control and for very good reason

Great post.

So Tan has employed people to do a job.
Pays them I'd imagine, quite well to do their jobs.
But they cannot do their jobs without getting Tans approval for every football related decision when they all work at a football club.

So what we have here is a severe case of micro management by an individual who admittedly knows f**k all about football.

And we wonder why we are in this mess?

Anyone who has worked as part of a unionised workforce or as a rep or anyone dealing with a toxic employer will have first hand knowledge of what it's like dealing with micro management.
The effect it has in the working environment and staff morale.

If you Google "what is the worst type of management system/structure" have a look at the responses.


Lack of Autonomy, Fear based motivation, suppressed creative freedom, inaffective team building, poor communication, micromanaging,lack of feedback, Lack of empathy.

All of which are readily recognised by fans of this club and no doubt the staff within the club and most likely current board members too.

I mean the solution is very simple, and I'm sure I don't have to spell it out for anyone on here.

Correct Tony, i'll keep saying it, until we get rid of Tan Cardiff City can not move forward.

Really disappointing update that. Nothing is going to change, it is bordering on clinical insanity to keep making the same errors and not learn from it. They don't give a toss about the fans, we know Tan doesn't already he makes no secret of it but Dalman, Choo.....all of them are as bad. What a mess we are in.

The trust is very democratic and if they only have 200 members it shouldn't be too difficult for 300 to join and elect a new leader and then an instant seat at FAB.

Slagging them or the FAB off is pointless, they are not the boogey man, someone else is.

Part of the dictator narrative… censor all communication and make sure fans don’t hear the truth only what we tell them…. FAB seem to have become the fans arm of Tans Puppet Show

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

I don’t see anything ‘new’ or overly informative in that statement but it does appear ‘some’ questions were asked and responded to in true ‘kind of’ tradition

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

Tan and the board plus others apparently read this forum so all the insults and pictures ect ect don't exactly endeare it to the club ...and people wonder why they don't communicate with fans? I certainly wouldn't just like kieth doesn't comment on financial information like use to because of insults aimed at him... anyway its upto people what they say on here but they shouldn't be surprised no one at club communicates with fans.

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

Tan and the board plus others apparently read this forum so all the insults and pictures ect ect don't exactly endeare it to the club ...and people wonder why they don't communicate with fans? I certainly wouldn't just like kieth doesn't comment on financial information like use to because of insults aimed at him... anyway its upto people what they say on here but they shouldn't be surprised no one at club communicates with fans.

Yes, agreed.

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

Tan and the board plus others apparently read this forum so all the insults and pictures ect ect don't exactly endeare it to the club ...and people wonder why they don't communicate with fans? I certainly wouldn't just like kieth doesn't comment on financial information like use to because of insults aimed at him... anyway its upto people what they say on here but they shouldn't be surprised no one at club communicates with fans.

Yes, agreed.

What he said.

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

Tan and the board plus others apparently read this forum so all the insults and pictures ect ect don't exactly endeare it to the club ...and people wonder why they don't communicate with fans? I certainly wouldn't just like kieth doesn't comment on financial information like use to because of insults aimed at him... anyway its upto people what they say on here but they shouldn't be surprised no one at club communicates with fans.

Yes, agreed.

What he said.

A lot of the time people don't even respond to the post they just come out with same rhetoric about club so its hardly surprising they say little as its always ridiculed or called lies even if there's elements of truth in things said...personally dont believe a lot of what is said but that doesnt mean have to criticise things just for the sake of it...

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

Tan and the board plus others apparently read this forum so all the insults and pictures ect ect don't exactly endeare it to the club ...and people wonder why they don't communicate with fans? I certainly wouldn't just like kieth doesn't comment on financial information like use to because of insults aimed at him... anyway its upto people what they say on here but they shouldn't be surprised no one at club communicates with fans.

Yes, agreed.

What he said.

A lot of the time people don't even respond to the post they just come out with same rhetoric about club so its hardly surprising they say little as its always ridiculed or called lies even if there's elements of truth in things said...personally dont believe a lot of what is said but that doesnt mean have to criticise things just for the sake of it...

Tans done a fantastic job don’t insult him as he reads this forum. Thank you Tan you’re a legend for keeping the club alive.

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

Tan and the board plus others apparently read this forum so all the insults and pictures ect ect don't exactly endeare it to the club ...and people wonder why they don't communicate with fans? I certainly wouldn't just like kieth doesn't comment on financial information like use to because of insults aimed at him... anyway its upto people what they say on here but they shouldn't be surprised no one at club communicates with fans.

The pictures you refer to have only been posted since the last few games of the season.

Part of the reason is the lack of communication.

There's an argument to say Tan has offended us more by taking us from PL to League One than we have offended him with a few pictures.

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

Tan and the board plus others apparently read this forum so all the insults and pictures ect ect don't exactly endeare it to the club ...and people wonder why they don't communicate with fans? I certainly wouldn't just like kieth doesn't comment on financial information like use to because of insults aimed at him... anyway its upto people what they say on here but they shouldn't be surprised no one at club communicates with fans.

Ye but when tan came in wasn’t he meant to take us to the next level get promoted and stay there?but we’ve gone backwards I don’t get why people don’t see that?and for me until tan and the board go I just don’t see things getting any better were run so amateur it’s unbelievable there’s Welsh prem sides run better then us,for me this summer was a massive chance for the board to come out admit their mistakes,but yet again they haven’t it’s rinse and repeat and expecting different results,what worries me to if we did have a good season next season I feel the board might feel they know what their doing and they quite clearly don’t so it’s a catch 22 at the moment we need these clowns gone for the good of Cardiff city

I think that Keith Morgan is another one of Tans puppet

Keith is Cardiff through and through and has been well before Tan was anywhere near us.

He’s probably done a lot more for Cardiff City than you have so I find this comment calling him a puppet a load of crap.

You know you can follow your own thoughts and not always quote what Annis calls people.

Tan and the board plus others apparently read this forum so all the insults and pictures ect ect don't exactly endeare it to the club ...and people wonder why they don't communicate with fans? I certainly wouldn't just like kieth doesn't comment on financial information like use to because of insults aimed at him... anyway its upto people what they say on here but they shouldn't be surprised no one at club communicates with fans.

The pictures you refer to have only been posted since the last few games of the season.

Part of the reason is the lack of communication.

There's an argument to say Tan has offended us more by taking us from PL to League One than we have offended him with a few pictures.

Ned wasnt referring just to recent pictures its been going on for a long time probably years .. yes Tan as offended us fans with his stupidity and lack of football knowledge but insulting someone is not best way to communicate With them... but you obviously missed the point made that the lack of communication could be partly downtown derogatory language and micky taking pictures ect on here? The use of such things on this forum is not because of their non communication thats for sure lot is copy cat syndrome. .. anyway said my peace on this subject been meaning to get it off my chest for ages ! Must be careful or be back to being called a Tan lover again!...
And yes I want him gone just like everyone else

Mehmet Dalman goes on to talk up the football experience of Steve Borley and himself in all the years they have been involved in football. We have no doubt that the empirical knowledge they have gained through years of experience is of great use,

This is why we are in a mess plus Tan thinks he is an expert.

We need someone like dave Jones neil warnock football experts I think that quote from Dalman clears up everything we all know he choo and Tan think they are experts and seeing we are in league 1 shows their football talent NOT