Video Highlights: CARDIFF CITY 2 Hull City 0

BBC Sport - Football - Highlights - Cardiff 2-0 Hull

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8991914.stm

Seyi Olofinjana's first-half strike against his parent club guides Cardiff City to a win over Hull as the Welshmen continue their unbeaten league start.

A Joint Statement by Cardiff City Supporters Club and Supporters Trust as the club face their latest D-Day

Crucial days regarding the future of Cardiff City seem to be almost a weekly, if not daily, event at present. On the day, T.G. arrives from Malaysia for talks which can make or break the club as there appears to be no other option, the Supporters Club and Supporters Trust have issued a joint statement clearly designed and timed to cause maximum impact and which reveals a lot of details privately discussed for some time.

Cardiff City fans have craved for some transparency and basic realities for a long time and there it is. Hopefully, that will make it very clear to all parties about the gravity of the situation at the club.

The difficulties that have arisen cannot be laid directly and entirely at PMG's door, I think the statement should have acknowledged that as it can come across as an attack on them, but they have undoubtedly influenced events and direction of the club to help get the stadium project going in the club (they were instrumental in pushing Hammam aside) which has materially been to their advantage.

Clearly, by applying shocking interest rates on their loans (way above base rate) plus all the other deals regards land, they continue to take advantage as well without any benefit to the club.

It now lies with them to do influence the club's entire future. It is about time they put something back as they sure have taken a hell of a lot.

Despite being granted a 56-day stay of execution in the High Court last week, it appears that Cardiff City Football Club's future is once again on a knife edge.

We have been reliably informed that administration is virtually inevitable before the end of March if significant new investment in the club has not materialised by then. We understand the Bluebirds' cash reserves are practically exhausted, there is little money available to pay this month's wage bill and debts are now estimated at almost £40 million.

The situation is clearly perilous, although we are led to believe there may be light at the end of the tunnel thanks to a written offer of investment from a Malaysian consortium. The group's front-man, Dato Chan Tien Ghee, is said to be arriving in the UK on Thursday for a series of meetings with Bluebirds' officials, during which the club's fate will effectively be sealed.

The men who appear to hold the key to the football club's future are Cardiff-based property developers Paul Guy and Mike Hall. Their company, PMG, is the club's biggest shareholder and also its largest secured creditor. Consequently, they are certain to be central to any takeover negotiations.

During recent years, PMG has benefited from a series of lucrative land deals connected to the Cardiff City Stadium project. Not only has the company become the sole owner of the successful Capital Retail Park, but it was also chosen to develop and build the Glamorgan Records Office, which stands adjacent to the new stadium.

In addition, PMG recently purchased another large plot of land on the stadium site, upon which a hotel will eventually be developed.

It is clear that PMG has been doing very nicely from its relationship with Cardiff City, but the current state of the football club's finances suggests the benefits of this association have not been entirely mutual.

It should be acknowledged that Paul Guy and Mike Hall were largely instrumental in getting the new stadium project off the ground. They advised on all stadium development issues, while PMG advanced the club £9 million of the funding required to build it. The loan was secured against future income from the Premier Club seating area and attracts interest estimated at £500,000 pa.

In December 2006, while he and his colleagues were in the process of taking control of Cardiff City, Mike Hall claimed the new investors were local people who were interested in the football club's long-term future. He also described former-owner Sam Hammam as being motivated by "total greed and self-interest."

We sincerely hope that Messrs Guy and Hall will not put themselves in a position whereby they will be open to similar accusations from Bluebirds' supporters during the coming weeks. We therefore call upon them to set aside their personal interests and do what is right for Cardiff City Football Club in the critical days ahead.

A Joint Statement by Cardiff City Supporters Club and Supporters Trust

After recent comment and some criticisms that the supporters groups weren't active enough or sending messages out although both groups have been in dialogue with the club and Directors at varying levels, they removed the gloves and issued the folliwng earlier this afternoon.

It may not change anything in itself but is is symbolic and good to see a united front.

The supporters of Cardiff City were relieved to hear the club has been given a further 56 days by the High Court to clear its outstanding tax debts.

However, fans were also alarmed to hear the Bluebirds described as "plainly insolvent" by the barrister representing Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

It is obvious that our beloved football club is in a wretched financial state and yet there appears to be none of the drastic cost-cutting measures we have seen at other clubs who have encountered similar problems. Instead, it seems the only remedies being offered by the Cardiff City board are the hopes of substantial foreign investment or promotion to the Premiership.

Given the perilous position of the club and our team's poor recent form, both solutions seem wildly optimistic. Consequently, these are very worrying times for all Bluebirds fans.

Despite the club's increasingly desperate plight, its management and players have continued to collect their hefty wages, and there are suggestions that some of the major shareholders have ensured monies owing to them have been paid ahead of those owed to HMRC.

Meanwhile, supporters have been asked to dip into their pockets time and again, and they have done so. Within the space of the last twelve months, the club has benefited from record season ticket sales and its highest attendance levels since the early-Seventies, so the fans have clearly been playing their part.

At present, the feeling amongst the Bluebirds' support is that we are being badly let down by those who are in control of our club. We were led to believe the move to our new stadium was the dawn of a bright new era, but in recent months it has been developing into a nightmare and there are widespread fears that things are set to go from bad to worse in the near future.

The board of directors and major shareholders are the custodians of our proud football club and, as such, they have a very clear duty to safeguard its future. We therefore hope they acknowledge their responsibilities and begin to act accordingly.

On behalf of Cardiff City's thousands of loyal supporters, we hereby call upon the directors, shareholders, management and players to set aside their personal interests and do what is right by our beloved football club during the critical weeks ahead.

CARDIFF CITY E.G.M. REPORT

CARDIFF CITY FOOTBALL CLUB held an E.G.M. today to approve a land sale to raise vital urgent funds to clear a tax demand but they also agreed to answers shareholder questions relating to the current financial situation at the club.





David Sugarman, Cardiff City Supporters Trust Membership Secretary, provided this comprehensive report for CardiffCity.com messageboard users which I've copied here.


Representing Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Ltd at today's Extraordinary General Meeting were Chairman Peter Ridsdale, Group Finance Director Alan Flitcroft, Company Secretary Alan Whiteley and board member Steve Borley. Apologies were given for the absence of missing board members Keith Harris and Dato Chan Tien Ghee.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 10am by giving the shareholders some background information regarding the House of Sport land sale proposal, which was the only official item on the agenda. While doing so, he confirmed the board would take questions from shareholders later in the meeting regarding the club's current financial situation, and he then invited any questions specific to the land sale proposal.

A shareholder asked if the price of the land in respect of the proposed deals with Borley Engineering Services Ltd and PMG Developments PLC had been valued independently. Peter Ridsdale confirmed that it had and stated that the council were fully satisfied that the best value on the deals had been achieved.

Shareholder Mike Roderick asked if the deal regarding the House of Sport was in the best interests of the football club as it appeared to him that a valuable future income stream was being sold off in order to service current debts.

Steve Borley explained that the value of the land where the House of Sport is to be situated was deemed to be nominal by two independent valuations due to the club's commitment to the council to build the facility. He said the House of Sport was never intended to be a money-earner for the club, but was instead one of the community benefits that formed an essential part of the original planning agreement with the council. Borley stated that the club desperately needs its own indoor training facility in order to satisfy the Football Association's criteria for Academy status, as the Vale has recently sold the indoor facility the club has been renting for the Academy players to the WRU. He added that the club was therefore in danger of losing Academy status if the House of Sport facility isn't built within the next eighteen months. He said he had been heavily involved in the club's youth structure since first becoming a director back in 1997 and he was desperate to ensure that the Academy continues to flourish.

Borley said that having his company build the House of Sport discharged a £3.5 million obligation the club could not afford at present. He admitted that his company's business plan in relation to the facility had been put together quickly in order to help ease the club's current cash-flow problems. He then assured the shareholders there was no financial benefit to him personally or for his company in building and running the House of Sport. With that in mind, he invited any shareholders present to join him as a partner in the project if they believed it would be a money-making scheme.

Alan Whiteley told the meeting that the club has an agreement with Borley Engineering Services Ltd to purchase the House of Sport at build cost within a period of twelve to eighteen months following practical completion of the facility.

Peter Ridsdale echoed Steve Borley's sentiments about the House of Sport being an obligation as opposed to a profit-making vehicle for the club, and said he felt it was very much in the club's best interests to pass that obligation on to Borley Engineering Services Ltd at this current point in time. He said the rental costs the club will have to pay BESL in order to use the facility once it is built will mirror the fees City are currently paying to use a similar facility at the Vale. Ridsdale added that the club's players and staff will be able to use a considerably better facility once the House of Sport is built, but on very similar financial terms.

Steve Borley said the rental figures he had used in his company's business plan had been obtained by comparing costs at other equivalent facilities. He said he could have cut costs and reduced the rental figures, but that would have meant the club's future players using a substandard facility, which would not be beneficial for their development. He added that some of the figures quoted in the press have been exaggerated with regard to the rental fees as the club won't be using it all year round.

Former-Chairman and shareholder Tony Clemo asked what would happen to the £450,000 Borley Engineering Services Ltd was proposing to pay for the House of Sport plot.

Peter Ridsdale stated the money would be wiped off the debt the club already owes to BESL for work the company has carried out on the new stadium project. He added the deal would significantly ease the club's current cash-flow problems as it would bring in direct funds through the second £1.8 million land deal with PMG Developments PLC.

A vote was then taken on the House of Sport land sale proposal. The Chairman revealed that proxy votes sent in by shareholders not in attendance at the meeting had amounted to approximately 22 million share votes for, and none against. He then asked for a show of hands. All of the shareholders present at the meeting voted in favour of the proposal bar two, so the motion was carried.

Tony Clemo asked when the accounts for the year ending 31 May 2009 are likely to be made available to shareholders and added a request for an Annual General Meeting to pass those accounts and the accounts for the year ending 31 May 2008.

Peter Ridsdale stated that the publication of the 31 May 2009 accounts is likely to be delayed due to an issue over the valuation of the land banks and stadium assets. However, he said he expected that issue to be resolved soon and the accounts to be published accordingly. Alan Flitcroft explained that the club is no longer required to hold an AGM under the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. However, the Chairman gave an undertaking to explore the possibilities of holding an AGM to pass the accounts, and in response to a request from another shareholder he also gave an undertaking to send the 2008 and 2009 accounts to all shareholders through the post.

Peter Ridsdale then gave a lengthy presentation outlining how far he and the board believe the club has come since 2005, when the Chairman first got involved with Cardiff City. He said when he arrived in South Wales, the club had debts of more than £30 million, was losing more than £9 million a year, was battling against relegation, the new stadium project was a pipedream and crowds were averaging 11,400.

Since then, he said the club's achievements have included four mid-table finishes in the Championship, an FA Cup final, the building and completion of a new stadium, the building of a new training facility at the Vale upon which the club has agreed a 15-year lease, and average crowds at present of 20,400.

The Chairman stated the board's business strategy in 2005 was: 1) to build the stadium, 2) to keep the club in the Championship, and 3) to sell players and assets in order to achieve the first two goals.

He said the board's business strategy in 2010 and going forwards is: 1) to seek new investment and funding, 2) to sell the club to new owners, and 3) to continually review overheads and costs until either of the first two goals are achieved.

Ridsdale suggested that five Championship clubs are currently receiving Premiership parachute payments, thirteen are being subsidised by wealthy individual owners and six are attempting to be self-sufficient. He said those six clubs are Cardiff, Doncaster, Plymouth, Preston, S****horpe and Swansea.

The Chairman pointed to the three main reasons as to why he believed the club had encountered serious cash-flow problems since the summer months:

1) The board had anticipated two major player sales during the close-season but only one deal had been struck (he later admitted that Joe Ledley was the second player the club had expected to sell)

2) The majority of the money the club had received from Birmingham City for Roger Johnson was immediately reinvested in the squad

3) The directors had been given assurances that new investment ranging between £2 and £6 million would be coming into the club, but so far only £500,000 has materialised

He added that the above issues had come against a backdrop of the club having to find money to build and fit out the stadium, meet repayments on loans to former directors, make repayments on the debt owed to PMG and make repayments to the Langston Corporation.

In answer to a question from a shareholder, the Chairman stated the only future income stream that had effectively been mortgaged at the new stadium was the catering contract which is being handled by Compass. However, he said that the royalties Compass pay the club is still well in excess of the money the club earned from the catering facilities at Ninian Park.

Ridsdale concluded his presentation by saying that the current cash-flow situation is a short-term issue as opposed to along-term problem. He admitted that mistakes have been made by the board, and he issued an apology for those mistakes, but he assured the shareholders that the directors are fully committed to tackling the current problems and they are confident they will be able to do so. The Chairman then opened up the meeting to questions from the floor.

Tracey Marsh of the Supporters' Trust asked how much money the Platinum Ambassadors season ticket scheme had raised and how that had been spent.

Alan Flitcroft responded that the scheme had raised a total of approximately £2.6 million a sum that was smaller than the season ticket sales from the same period in 2008/09. He said that since the scheme had been launched, the club had paid out £2.3 million in wages and a similar amount in taxes. He admitted the season ticket income had largely been spent on those areas, although he stated the situation was far more complex as the club had also raised money through various other means and had spent money on other running costs during the same period.

After Keith Morgan of the Supporters' Trust had clarified several technical points in relation to the financial figures quoted in Peter Ridsdale's presentation, shareholder Annis Abraham then called for a vote of no confidence in the Chairman. He also asked Steve Borley if Ridsdale has his backing as regards his position at the club. The vote of no confidence was seconded by shareholder Sam Murphy.

The Chairman stated that if any shareholder wishes to stage a vote of no confidence in either him or any other board member, they need to call a General Meeting for that specific purpose and obtain the backing of at least 5% of the company's shareholders in order to table such a resolution, as required by the company's constitution. Steve Borley then asked Annis Abraham what he thought he was trying to prove by asking such a question. Abraham stated that he wanted to know if the Chairman had his backing and the backing of the other major shareholders, such as Paul Guy and Mike Hall. Borley confirmed that the Chairman does indeed have his backing.

Shareholder Mike Roderick asked if the anticipated investment which had apparently failed to arrive before Christmas had been delayed because the Chairman had been unprofessional and had not made the potential investors aware of the club's true financial position.

Peter Ridsdale stated that neither he nor the club's other representatives have had any meaningful meetings with potential investors without revealing the club's full financial liabilities. He maintained that he had informed one potential investor of the HMRC winding-up order on the same day that he had first learned about it.

Responding to an earlier question from Keith Morgan, the Chairman stated the club had made significant operating losses in recent seasons in its attempt to stay in the Championship, as losing its Championship status would have been a disaster. He confirmed that an operating loss will again be made during the current season on the basis that the club has spent substantial funds in order to fit out the new stadium. When pressed by a shareholder, Ridsdale refused to put a figure on this season's losses on the grounds that the relevant accounts have yet to be audited or published.

Geraint Jones, Secretary of the Supporters' Trust, asked Peter Ridsdale to list the club's short-term creditors. He also asked what those creditors are owed and how the club intends to service those debts. The Chairman responded that he was unable to give a list of short-term creditors as the information was confidential and commercially sensitive. However, he said he fully understood the concerns of the shareholders with regard to that situation. He stated that the directors are acutely aware of the requirement to pay all of the club's creditors and they are doing everything within their powers to make sure cash is available to meet those debts. He added that £2.3 million has recently been paid to the Inland Revenue and more money will be paid to them next week.

Shareholder Steve Perry asked if the club faces a further winding-up order in April from a firm owed a figure of approximately £700,000 in relation to services provided at the new stadium.

Alan Flitcroft confirmed that there is currently a petition for a winding-up order against Cardiff City Stadium Ltd (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Ltd), and that order has been adjourned until April. Flitcroft said he hoped the club would be able to reach a satisfactory arrangement with the company concerned before the matter goes back to court.

A shareholder asked if director Keith Harris is paid a six-figure salary by the club.

Peter Ridsdale stated that Harris is not paid a six-figure salary by the club. He said he believes that, to date, Harris has not been paid any fees at all by the club, and if he has they are certainly not in six figures.

Phil Nifield of the Supporters' Trust asked the board to confirm or deny if the club is currently under a Football League transfer embargo, and if it is to state when that embargo was put in place.

The Chairman confirmed that the club is currently under such an embargo and will be until such a time that the current tax situation is satisfactorily resolved. He said the embargo initially came into effect during the autumn.

Phil Nifield asked why the club was promoting the Platinum Ambassadors season ticket scheme by promising fans that the squad would be strengthened in January with the proceeds when the club was in fact under a transfer embargo.

Peter Ridsdale stated that at the time of the season tickets launch, the board was fully expecting money to come into the club in the form of new investment which would have enabled the tax debts to be cleared and the season ticket cash to be spent on new players. He said that investment hadn't materialised, and therefore the club hadn't been able to clear the tax debt as expected.

Alan Flitcroft stated that he wasn't going to attempt to kid anyone and confessed that of course he had known when the season ticket campaign was launched that the club owed HMRC a significant amount of money. He said the messages the club was putting out about backing manager Dave Jones during the January transfer window were based on commitments that had been given to the board by potential investors. As those commitments were not honoured, the board couldn't spend the season ticket money as they had wanted to. He admitted he was embarrassed by the situation and apologised to the shareholders for it.

On the subject of investment, the Chairman stated that before the General Meeting had started he had asked his colleagues if they felt the club would be more likely to attract the new investment they are currently working to secure if he were to go than if he were to stay. Ridsdale said the board's view is that new investment is more likely to happen if he stays than if he goes. He added that if their answer had been the opposite, he wouldn't have been present at the meeting.

A shareholder asked what the annual cost of servicing the club's long-term debts is.

Alan Flitcroft said the club is committed to paying £1 million a year to Langston, £1 million a year to PMG and approximately £720,000 in director's loans. He said that while these are obviously significant sums, he feels they are affordable within the club's current budget.

The same shareholder asked if the club was likely to have sell players this coming summer.

Peter Ridsdale confirmed that the club almost certainly will have sell players during the next close-season, just as it has done in previous years.

Dave Sugarman of the Supporters' Trust asked if Dato Chan Tien Ghee is a director of the club and, if he is, why hasn't his directorship been registered at Companies House.

Alan Whiteley confirmed that Dato Chan is a director, but he said the form which was sent to Companies House in order to register him as such was rejected because it was filled out incorrectly. Whiteley added that an amended form is in the process of being registered.

Dave Sugarman then asked if any of the club's directors have been awarded bonuses in relation to the completion of the new stadium and, if so, how much were those bonuses.

Alan Whiteley stated that three directors were paid bonuses in recognition of the work they had put into the scheme. He said Peter Ridsdale had been awarded a bonus of £100,000, while he and Steve Borley had been awarded bonuses of £50,000 each.

A shareholder asked how long the Chairman felt the club could survive without further investment.

Peter Ridsdale said the club has money coming in from various income streams every day of the week. He stated that if the directors didn't think the club could survive long-term, they wouldn't be sitting in a meeting like this one but would instead be busy taking other action. He added that it was only because the board believed in the financial viability of the club that they had set up the General Meeting in order to help take things further forward.

The Chairman then refused to answer a question from shareholder Mike Roderick in connection with WH Sports Group Ltd, the liquidated consultancy company through which he was initially paid fees by the club. He merely stated that he was happy that his affairs in connection with WH Sports were being appropriately managed.

Tony Clemo asked what sort of form the board believes a potential takeover might take in view of the fact that almost all of the shares from the 2007 issue have now been subscribed to.

Alan Whiteley said a takeover may take the form of existing shareholders selling their stakes to a new investor, or a new share issue may need to be set up, in which case the shareholders would have to pass the resolution at a specially-convened General Meeting. Peter Ridsdale added that the club is currently talking to four groups of potential investors, and those groups include people who have said they are interested in both types of takeover.

A shareholder made a statement that he believed a vocal minority at the meeting were pursuing their own agendas and did not represent the feelings of the majority of shareholders. Another shareholder then asked how far the talks with potential investors regarding a takeover had progressed.

The Chairman said he couldn't answer that question with any degree of certainty as the board had received written commitments from potential investors in recent months which hadn't been honoured. Therefore, he said he didn't feel in a position to make any definitive statements about the progress on new investment. However, he added that there are two interested parties who he believes are very strong possibilities for future investment, both of which he has spoken to again this week.

Ridsdale said he is totally committed to finding new owners for the club as a matter of urgency so that he can hand over control to them, which he said would no doubt please some of the people in the room. He stated he believes the club can only continue to compete at the top end of the Championship or get promoted to the Premiership if new investment comes in, and the board is determined to deliver such investment in order to avoid a situation whereby the club goes backwards. He added that he and his colleagues are spending many hours each day trying to ensure that new investment does come into the football club as soon as possible.

Keith Morgan asked if proper due diligence has been carried out on the potential investors. He pointed to the recent situation that had arisen with supposed investor Ben Steele, who had subsequently proved to be something of a timewaster as far as the club was concerned.

The Chairman confirmed that the people the club is currently talking to are known to be genuine. He admitted the situation with Steele had been unfortunate, but pointed out that it was Steele himself who had been building himself up in the press. Ridsdale said he felt the board had a duty to the shareholders to investigate anybody who expressed an interest in investing in the club, and he was confident that the groups who are currently in talks with the club are serious in their intentions.

A shareholder then suggested that a number of people in the meeting had come along merely to stir up trouble and he implored the supporters who would later be speaking to the press to talk in positive terms about the club. He said the fans should get behind the current board for the next few months and hope they can turn things around for the club. His comments received an ovation from a fair percentage of those present.

Peter Ridsdale wrapped up the meeting, which had lasted almost exactly two hours, by thanking the shareholders for their attendance. On behalf of the board, he apologised for the current cash-flow problems and the Platinum Ambassadors season ticket situation. He admitted mistakes have been made and stated that he and his colleagues are fully committed to solving the issues which have resulted from those mistakes. He closed by saying the board is also fully committed to finding new investment which will help to take the club on to the next level.

The meeting ended at 12:03pm.

Dave Sugarman
Membership Secretary
Cardiff City Supporters' Trust

Cardiff City drop to 6th as they head into E.G.M. Day

It's E.G.M. Day at the Cardiff City Stadium today where Bluebirds shareholders and The Supporters Trust can finally - and hopefully! - ask the questions about the short, medium and log-term future of the troubled club and get factual answers rather than the flowery flannel peddled by Peter Ridsdale.

I say hopefully as the E.G.M. is called by the club to approve the land sale around the stadium, a move that will raise funds to clear City's current tax debt with a winding up court hearing due March 11th with HMRC. That is the sole agenda item but there should/will be an Any Other Business section to the meeting, it remains to be seen how much time and lip service the club will devote to this as they should be set to face a wave of awkward questions and possible votes of no confidence in Chairman Peter Ridsdale and, maybe, the entire Board after the club have rung up record debts and problems, the full extent of them still aren't entirely in the public gaze.

24 hours after follow 2008 F.A. Cup finallists Portsmouth admiitted defeated in their bid to stave off financial ruin and will go into administration, supporters just want to know what's happened to their Golden Ticket season ticket money and, more importantly, if the club manage to get through this season, how they hope to perform given future season ticket monies are spent, all income streams have been sold or exhausted and the outgoings of the club (£1.2M per month on wages alone, let alone the Chairman's bonuses) are apparently out of control.


The club will, this morning, also be looking nervously over their shoulders in the play-off campaign as, after having cemented 4th spot with a sfaety margin, they suddenly find themselves occupying 6th place and the final play-off spot following Leicester's 1-0 victory at Doncaster last night.

City have traditonally fallen away in the 2nd half of the season and another year where they didn't bring in players in January leaves them painfully limited. City still enjoy at least a 4 point advantage, game(s) in hand and a vastly superior goal difference over sides below them but there will be fears they could run out of steam ... and players!

1	Newcastle	32	34	66
2	Nottm Forest	33	24	61
3	West Brom	32	29	60
4	Swansea	32	7	53
5	Leicester	32	8	51
6	Cardiff	31	18	49
7	Blackpool	33	10	47
8	Sheff Utd	32	1	45
9	Middlesbrough	33	6	44

Cardiff City's Circus of Horrors ... all the freaks are out!

A touring freak show, The Circus of Horrors, has been travelling around South Wales this week but they must be embarrassed by being outclassed by the high farce at Cardiff City.

After the club issued yesterday's nauseous club statement that 11,000 fans who bought season tickets 8 months early at Christmas under Dave Jones' pledge and Peter Ridsdale's guarantee that it would bring new players to the club could no longer be honoured, the last flickering embers of trust, respect and credibility had gone.

Overnight, this morning and through to lunchtime, strong rumours emerged that Peter Ridsdale, fully aware of the negative impact of that statement, had offered his resignation. Shortly after, a 2pm press conference was announced.

Incredibly, Ridsdale appeared to say he was continuing as Chairman with the Board and shareholders supporting him and he was committed to sorting out the current problems. He apologised if supporters felt they were misled by him. The man must have the skin of a rhino!

The full press conference, with Ridders doing his usual politician act of saying what he wanted in abundance but with little substance and avoiding straight answers to direct questions, can be heard here:

http://www.realradiowales.co.uk/player/listen-again/kdfklf39/listen-4983/

Why he called it, I don't know because it has only served to further infuriate the Cardiff support. The fact the Board have supported him means the anger will spread to others. Paul Corkery of the Supporters Trust summed up the mood and feeling perfectly in this responses interview.

http://www.realradiowales.co.uk/player/listen-again/kdfklf39 /listen-4984/

So evening settled, anger still seething and we didn't think the day could get any sillier but up popped Dave Sugarman on the Cardiff City messageboard with a message from Sam Hammam asking us to stay calm. This from a man who caused mutli-millions of debt at this club and still takes £80k a month out of it to get another £16M back. One poster caught my mood when he responded, "If Hammam is asking for calm, I'd better get my gun"!


But to round it off, a messageboard appeal by the man expected to have become acting Chairman and the one man on the Board that fans have some trust in, Steve Borley who also asked for calm. Borley's ill advised message follows but it predictably went down like a lead balloon.

And still nobody can confirm if the tax bill can be paid by Feb 10th. A typical day with the City then!

I have just read the post from the lone Gunman passing on a message from Sam and believe he is right. I urge supporters to be calm because the eyes are on us and the last thing we need is to give the impression we are too hot to handle. I understand the frustrations and anger amongst the fans but we need to show our passion is a positive thing and not negative. There are guenuine interest in the club and we need your help to foster it. we need to get behind the team the manager and the club in the same way we did on the Leicester game where I believe you were responsible for the 3rd and 4th goals. I called for calm before that game and thank you for the response. I never dreamt in my lifetime I would ever see a fixture list where the 2 games after saturday would be Newcastle and Chelsea. I urge you to keep the faith

Steve

City want Garvan but there's a problem - money

National newspapers hinted Cardiff City were tracking Ipswich's out of favour Owen Garvan last week and now the local press confirm there is some truth to the story but the current cashflow appears to be dictating they cannot bring him on loan to cover the injured Steve McPhail - which is a blow - and they won't be get him in the January transfer window either until players are moved out.

However at least 3 other Championship clubs are tracking the talented midfielder so watch this space.

Video Highlights - Cardiff City 2 Coventry City 0

Use link to watch:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8318367.stm

McCormack heading to Pompey?

Ross McCormack joined Cardiff City last summer just after The Bluebirds lost out to Portsmouth in the F.A. Cup Final at Wembley - a year on and City may be set to lose their star man to the South Coast club as well.

Following Ross McCormack telling the club he wished to leave last week - but in Ross' words, not handing in a transfer request - City have been braced mainly for an approach from Hull City but it is Portsmouth who have made the first move and possibly a decisive one as well.


The club have been in freefall and selling player after player which included key striker Peter Crouch 48 hours ago so, despite their financial woes, they need to spend and recruit new faces and it appears that Ross has been identified.


Sky Sports News are currently reporting a bid had been made while news sources in Portsmouth confirm that their Chief Executive Peter Storrie has contacted Peter Ridsdale and "encouraged by talks (while) informed a fee of around £5m will land the Scottish international".

Jones & Ridsdale have a Lover's Tiff

In their first ever publicly aired disagreement, Cardiff City manager DAVE JONES has challenged chairman PETER RIDSDALE to back him and buy more players while keeping the stars too.

Jones - "Back me Pete, you know I want Robbie back"

Some Cardiff fans prefer to play it down and some think it may be an orchestrated campaign with Ridders' approval to stir the Board into action but it is clear there is a clear difference in opinion at the top and for Dave Jones to air hs grieveances in public just 3 weeks before the season starts is not a healthy situation.

After all, we all know Dave Jones and His Moans tends to run and run until/unless he gets his way and Jones certainly appears to be openly challenge his Chairman and Board to act now and will not be satisifed if he isn't backed or take responsibility if Cardiff City cannot challenge in the Championship this coming season.

Talking to the South Wales Echo whilst at training camp in Portugal, Jones said, "I want three more players in and the chairman knows who there are. If I can bring them in, then Cardiff City will have one heck of a squad for the new season."

But he immediately added, "I don`t want to lose the three I have asked for. Does the chairman have the courage to go for it? We have to stop selling our best players at some stage. I can`t keep building if we keep selling."


Cardiff City have a logjam and wish to move players out before bringing new personnel in but there is currently no sign of anyone making a move for the likes of Feeney, Capaldi, Parry to name a few. It is also likely that City will want to sell either Joe Ledley or McCormack (or both!) to rasie funds but Jones wishes to keep them. The budget and finances are tighter than a gnat's chuff and with players overpaid, it is a problem finding others who will match the salary of surplus men.

Of course, Ridsdale and The Board heavily backed Jones last season including turning down a £6M offer for Joe while bringing in Chopra and Quincy but it back-fired disastrously with the awful end to the season missing out on what looked like a cast-iron play-off place.

It'll be interesting to see how this pans out but Jones has clearly drawn a line in the sand and an excuse if he's not backed and there's failure.

Cardiff City Supporters Trust meet Alan Flitcroft, club C.O.O.

CARDIFF CITY SUPPORTERS TRUST HELD A REGULAR INFORMAL MEETING AT THE DUKE of CLARENCE pub in Canton last night and were pleased to be joined by the club's Chief Operating Officer, Alan Flitcroft.

Dave Sugarman, memebership secretary, provided this very helpful meeting report of the main topics under discussion.

YOU CAN FIND OUT ALL ABOUT THE CARDIFF CITY TRUST HERE

http://ccst.x10hosting.com/

Alan fielded questions on a wide variety of issues during a meeting that lasted almost two hours. What follows is a brief summary of the main topics discussed: Catering at the new Cardiff City Stadium Alan was asked to explain how the catering contract at the new stadium works. He revealed the club has been paid and advanced sum by catering operators Compass, which has enabled the club to pay for the fitting-out of all the food and drink outlets within the stadium. He said the club will receive a minimum guaranteed annual royalty for the duration of the Compass contract, and will also receive a cut of any excess above the set annual turnover figure. The club had already announced earlier in the day that, after discussions with Compass, the prices of various food and drink items have been reduced. Alan said the club had taken on board the feedback supplied by Trust members and other supporters following Saturday's Legends game and as a result had renegotiated the price of several key lines with the caterers. He revealed that all beers will now cost a maximum of £3 per pint on the concourses, the price of a Clark's Pie will be reduced, and the pie and a pint deal will now cost a combined total of £5. He also stated that the vans selling very expensive pork rolls and large hotdogs at Saturday's event are temporary measures while nearby catering outlets are being completed. They are likely to be in use for Friday's friendly against Chasetown, but will be gone by the time City entertain Celtic at the stadium's official opening ceremony on 22nd July. Alan listened to the concerns expressed by a number of Trust members about the lack of variety in the catering products available to fans during Saturday's Legends event, and said he will pass those comments on to Compass. Away Membership Alan was asked why the Away Membership fee is set as high as £20.00 when the club is now demonstrating it can operate a card system for £3.50. He replied that the money the club makes from the Away Membership scheme goes towards funding the cost of sending twelve Cardiff City stewards to each away game. Allocation of Tickets for Big League and Cup Games It was suggested that the club should draw up its policies for the allocation of home and away tickets for big matches before the season starts, so supporters know in advance exactly where they stand when such games come around. Loyalty schemes used by other clubs were discussed, and Alan gave an undertaking to explore this idea further. Director Keith Harris Alan was asked what role Keith Harris currently plays at the club and if he takes a salary from Cardiff City. He stated that Keith primarily acts as an advisor to the rest of board in terms of attracting further investment, and revealed the club has already followed up a number of interesting leads he has provided. Alan added that Keith is also an excellent source of information with regard to what is going on in the world of football finance, and it is a boost for the club to have someone of his stature within the game on its board of directors. Alan confirmed that Keith is paid a wage for his role as a non-executive director. Match Day Prices for 2009/10 Alan confirmed the club is going to review its match day ticket prices for the 2009/10 campaign. He said a meeting is already scheduled to discuss this particular issue, and items on the agenda will include differential pricing for matches depending on the opposition and more innovative marketing of ticket sales. After listening to several suggestions from the floor, he said that ideas such as five and ten-game mini-season tickets would be added to the meeting's agenda. E-ticketing Booking Fees Alan was asked why the booking fees are so high on the new e-ticketing system. He said the fees go towards funding the club's link-up with agents Ticket Master, but he agreed that the costs involved should be reviewed and gave an undertaking to do so. Langston Loan Notes Debt Alan was asked is any of the £24 million loan notes debt had been cleared since the new board took over in January 2007. He said that it hadn't, but added that the board is currently investigating ways in which to clear the loan notes debt with one renegotiated payment. Shirt Sponsorship Alan stated that talk on internet message boards about a sponsorship deal involving a betting company was premature, as no such deal has yet been finalised. However, he said that discussions are ongoing in that regard, and added that if a betting company does sponsor the adult shirts, then the replica shirts for children are likely to carry the name of a local charity instead. Away Bubble Trips Concerns were expressed about the number of so-called 'bubble trips' the club's travelling supporters are subjected to during each season. Alan said that club Chairman Peter Ridsdale is against all such restrictions in principle, but added that he personally feels they are necessary for certain matches. He said he believes the club must make a serious effort to ensure that any bubble trips this season are made as comfortable as possible for the fans that travel on them, and he also gave an undertaking to travel to a bubble match on a coach with the supporters in order to experience the sort of treatment they receive for himself. Customer Service Alan admitted that, while the club's staff generally do a great job, there are times when the levels of customer service could be improved. He praised the staff and said that Cardiff City has some excellent employees who have been working very hard under difficult circumstances in recent years, but he acknowledged that there is room for improvement in terms of customer service. He said the club's staff also recognize this and are currently taking positive steps in that respect. Marketing Several complaints were made from the floor about the very poor marketing of the club. Alan was in total agreement that the club doesn't currently do enough to market itself and that huge improvements are needed in this particular area. He admitted that the club doesn't even have a marketing manager or marketing department as such, but hinted that changes are likely in that regard in the near future. Summary Alan gave up his own free time to attend this meeting, and he was open and honest with all of the answers he gave to questions from floor. The Trust members who were in attendance seemed to enjoy the meeting and Alan stated afterwards that the feedback he had received from the fans on a wide variety of issues had been valuable. On behalf of the Cardiff City Supporters' Trust, I would like to offer my thanks to Alan Flitcroft for taking the time and making the effort to attend the meeting. It was very much appreciated by all concerned. Dave Sugarman Membership Secretary Cardiff City Supporters' Trust

Supporters Trust Meet The Club

On Tuesday, Cardiff City Supporters Trust held a meeting with the club, this is now a regular get together and is working well.

Dave Sugarman shared some interesting snippets with CardiffCity.com messageboard users which are repeated here:

The following information was gleaned from club officials during yesterday's meeting at Ninian Park:

ON FINANCES

1) The prospect of new owners or significant new investment in the club is remote at present. The current economic climate, coupled with the continuing mystery surrounding the Langston Corporation, is deterring any potential major investors from getting involved in CCFC at this point in time.

2) Langston have recently indicated they are willing to accept reduced terms in return for an early settlement of the loan notes debt.

3) Given the present economic situation, the prospect of finding a sponsor for the new stadium is even more remote than the likelihood of any significant new investment in the club.

4) The club has managed to fill most of the corporate boxes at the new stadium, but finding companies who are willing to provide sponsorship and pay for advertising within the ground is proving very difficult.

5) City are one of eighteen Championship clubs who are currently without a shirt sponsor for next season, although there may be some positive news on this front soon.

ON OTHER SUPPORTER-RELATED MATTERS

1) The new season ticket cards are due to be delivered to the club on 22nd June, and the ticket office is aiming to get them all to our doorsteps by 1st July.

2) Fans are being encouraged to buy the £3-50 match cards for the forthcoming friendlies. These can then be used for the rest of the season. Paper tickets are only likely to be available on the day for these fixtures.

3) A total of eighteen Championship clubs are currently without shirt sponsors for next season. Vans Direct have not taken up the option of renewing their sponsorship for next season, and another potential sponsor has decided against the idea. However, City hope to have a new sponsor in place very soon and there could be positive news in this respect by the end of the week.

4) All of the bars inside the ground should be open for the friendlies, although some bars and restaurants in the Premier Club seating area are unlikely to finshed in time.

5) The club's new high-tech video screen will be in place for the Celtic game.

6) Tickets for the forthcoming League Cup tie against Dagenham and Redbridge are likely to be as cheap as the club can make them.

7) Unfortunately, the new club shop may not be open in time for the first couple of friendlies, although everything is being geared towards the Celtic game, so it should be open by then.

Swansea close in on Cardiff goalie rejects

Had to smile as news broke today that Swansea City Football Club (whose Chairman Huw Jenkins gace Cardiff advice on how to get crowds a couple of years ago when they're now a few thousand behind the Bluebirds and now gives out financial advice too when his club have hit administration a couple of times) are actively chasing two goalkeepers who Cardiff just returned after a moderately successful loan (in one instance) ad a complete disaster in the other.

TOM HEATON proved a good shotshopper and has potential but wasn't quite the answer for Cardiff. Although he expressed a desire to stay, it was never going to happen and with Swansea keeper Dorus De Vries in a contract wrangle, he is being seen as a good replacement. I'm sure he would do a good job for them too but he needs development.



Dimi The Drop on the other hand was only denied being the worst Cardiff City goalkeeper in my lifetime by the never to be forgotten solitary performance of Peter Zois.

Zero at Cardiff, Dimi is a Swansea hero for his failures with us but also strong loan showings with the Swans. A touted loan move next season to lower league Hartlepool seemed appropraite but Swans may step in. On the evidence of what I saw, I hope the Swans get him!

Tonight's Cardiff City Phone-In Show (featuring the Supporters Trust)

Tonight's Programme including a studio guest, Mark Hooper,
vice chair of the fledgling Cardiff City Supporters Trust.


You can listen, or download, via this link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?wzjozglwxom

Cardiff City Supporters Trust Update

Cardiff City have agreed to sell £1,000 worth of shares to the Trust as it shapes up and votes on its inaugural members.

Western Mail story here:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/03/24/supporters-have-a-share-in-club-s-future-thanks-to-offer-91466-23217258/

Cardiff City Supporters Trust Website:
http://www.ccst.x10hosting.com/

Bothroyd - ready, willing and able for the climax

In today's South Wales Echo, JAY BOTHROYD tell how he playing his best football ever at Cardiff City this season. Looking ahead to tomorrow's massive clash against Sheffield United at Parc Nin and reflecting on hitting double figures as a pivotal forward for "The City", Jay says, "“Cardiff have brought the best out of me”.


Clearly loving it, he adds, "I’m having a fantastic time and I’m definitely playing the best football of my career as Dave Jones has been great, but so has everyone, including the fans. 10 goals isn’t bad, but I’d love to score more. I have my own personal target, which I’m keeping to myself, but it’s far more important to contribute in every match. Whether I score or help set somebody else up, we benefit as a team.”

Jay, who has always had talent but never fiited anywhere to make the most of it for varying reasons and who I'll admit to being throughly gutted when news broke that Cardiff had signed him (but I love him proving my fears wrong) has been pushed hard by Dave Jones and its reaping its rewards.

Looking forward to tomorrow, Both says, "They (Sheffield United) are right up there with us in the table, but that’s great for us. I’d prefer to play teams who are around us rather than those fighting against relegation. It seems more enjoyable when you are playing teams who pass the ball around and play their football.”

Have'em Jay!!!

Cardiff City 2 Watford 1 - how the press called it

Watford lose after Cardiff score controversial penalty with last ...

Watford Observer

Ross McCormack is Cardiff City hero in late drama

WalesOnline

Jones pleased with win

SkySports

McCORMACK STINGS HORNETS

Sportinglife.com

Ross mccormack seals win for Cardiff City

WalesOnline

'My players were adamant it was a penalty' - Dave Jones

WalesOnline

Ross mccormack keeps cool to deliver three points for Cardiff City

WalesOnline

I’m grateful ref’s decision went for us, says delighted Jones

WalesOnline

Ross mccormack penalty keeps Cardiff City promotion hopes alive

Times Online

Defeat for Watford, but at least 'Superman' Tommy Smith is back ...

Telegraph.co.uk

CARDIFF LATE SHOW PLEASES JONES

Sportinglife.com

McCormack makes Watford pay penalty

The Press Association

Boss not happy to pay the penalty again

Clubcall

Jones happy with gamble

Clubcall

Rodgers vents fury over another spot of injustice

This is London

Cardiff 2-1 Watford: Hornets suffer late penalty agony again

Mirror.co.uk

ROSS EYES PREM SPOT

Mirror.co.uk

Cardiff 2 Watford 1

The Sun

Cardiff 2 Watford 1: Rodgers in a rage over late winner

Daily Mail -

Cardiff 2-1 Watford

Sportbox

Watford lose after Cardiff score controversial penalty with last ...

Watford Observer

Bluebirds leave it late - again

Setanta Sports

Cardiff City Snatch Last Gasp Winner !

Vitalfootball