" Proud Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay looks to the future after play-off exit "
Malky Mackay
MALKY Mackay has begun to plot next season's assault on promotion to the Premier League after the disappointment of play-off defeat.
Cardiff City's hopes were shattered by West Ham's 5-0 aggregate win, losing 3-0 in the second leg at Upton Park, and Mackay said: "The more ruthless team won, but I am very proud of my players at the end of a long, hard season.
"We looked a tired team and my job now is to make sure we have far more strength in depth next season. This morning I will meet with my backroom staff and we will step up our plans to make sure that happens.
"We have to kick on quickly and bring in the players we need. Look at West Ham's squad and the strength they have through their squad. We can't match West Ham financially, but we can make sure we have similar competition for places.
"Everybody in our dressing room was bitterly disappointed after the final whistle, but we were in the play-off semi-finals with Birmingham City, Blackpool and West Ham, three teams who have come down from the Premier League and had the benefit of parachute payments.
"The second leg of our semi-final was played nine months to the day since our opening game of the season when we won 1-0 against West Ham. I am proud of the way this football club is beginning to run in all areas.
"Everybody has played their part from the chief executive (Alan Whiteley), club directors and our investors from Malaysia led by Vincent Tan and chairman TG (Dato Chan Tien Ghee). When I came in the remit was to rebuild and we did that, bringing in 10 players plus qualifying for the Carling Cup final and the play-offs.
"We were always playing catch-up from the start, but we gave it everything we had. The players could not have given any more in getting us to this point over the season and now we have to work hard over the summer to make sure our progress continues.
"Everybody at our club badly wanted to go back to Wembley, but it wasn't possible this time. Now we know it's Championship football again in 2012-13 and we will work flat out to make sure we bring in the right players."
Mackay will want to bring in a fair number of new signings, again a mix of experience and youth. He will surely target an experienced attack leader to compete with Kenny Miller, while a winger with pace and quality will be another top target.
A number of players may also be on their way out and that may include goalkeeper Tom Heaton in the search for regular first team football. Other fringe players including Lee Naylor, Dekel Keinan, Jon Parkin and Paul Quinn will also be looking to play more.
So, too, will Robert Earnshaw, although he is one of those still under contract through next season.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is now planning for the play-offs final at Wembley Stadium, against Blackpool, who lead 1-0 after the first leg, or Birmingham City.
"Now we have to deliver at Wembley," said Allardyce. "We will be difficult to beat if we maintain our form shown against Cardiff, but we have to handle the occasion.
"But we dealt with the extreme pressure of play-off semi-final football. I don't know who I would rather play in the final, but blackpool impressed in their first leg. They might have scored more than one goal, but Birmingham City have been excellent at home all season.
"It's down to who keeps their nerve in the second leg. I can relax while two other managers face the pressure."
Allardyce revealed that Wales international Jack Collison suffered a dislocated shoulder during the match, but said: "We don't yet know the extent of his injury and he can't be ruled out of the final just yet."
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