SHARES + MONEY = DAVE JONES

Can someone please explain exactly what Dave Jones has achieved to earn a new improved contract ... just months after getting a new improved contract?

After giving Warren Feeney a three year contract and deciding Steve McPhail could have another 2 yrs when he had 2 yrs left anyway (the player himself admitting surprise with that) yet they couldn't look after Neil Alexander and are only about to start talks with Joe Ledley with less than a year to go, maybe I shouldn't be surprised by any contract at NP Towers anymore but this one did.

Last winter, Dave Jones got a shiny new bigger contract, apparently his reward for City's start to that season, not going to West Brom and a "celebration" of the club ridding itself of Sam Hammam ... maybe not in that particular order either. There were no complaints at the time, City were flying and the team were showing quality on the park but it's been a different story since.

Don't get me wrong, DJ is a highly capable, very good manager. Well he has had dubious foreign imports, unsuccessful loans, likes to moan in public and doesn't seem to deal well with players when they fall out of favour but nobody is perfect and he's done really overall, no question. However football is a results business and that's not been clever. Quality has been unbelievably poor since November 2007, results even worse.

It's been near-relegation form ending with Jones presiding over the worst finish in Cardiff City league history ... that takes some doing given the past record of this club! On the road, the only time we won since last October was when City fans were banned and it's been a rare day when we had a draw, I've rarely known Cardiff perform so badly away.

CHER - Nowt to do with

Dave Jones' shares ...
just a cheap joke & the

chance to see her in THAT kit

For many City fans, questions were starting to be asked about Jones last May, some feeling a poor start to this season could bring major discontent. Yet by awarding another improved contract and shares, Jones appears to have become more bombproof. Is it a reflection of a close relationship with Peter Ridsdale, a reward for selling Michael Chopra for £5M and, so far, not spending a single penny or just supreme confidence that the man will deliver something more than the 4 years of, ultimately, mid-table obscurity we've now had?

However it's can only be good to have stability at the top, City and Ridsdale appear to have provided that. Jones' new players and squad building provide promise of a more stable and consistent season and we can only hope (pray?) what appears - from the outside looking in - to be the award of a better contract when there wasn't much need for one works out in the club's best interests and proves to be a brilliant decision.