Cardiff need a new manager. What normally now happens is the club seemingly invites applications, like they’re looking for someone to work in the club shop, and waits to see what arrives through the post. This has never been fit for purpose, but if that is the approach this time, it will have far reaching, damaging consequences.
Barring a minor miracle, there’s a very real possibility that Cardiff will be a League One side by the end of the month, if not by the end of the week. This is territory that has been unchartered for more than two decades and the club urgently need a clearly defined plan. They may have bumbled by in recent years and just about got away with it, but that cannot be the approach now. It could prove the difference between season ticket sales taking a hit or falling through the floor.
Cardiff have a pretty terrible record of appointing managers and I cannot recall any that have been pursued by a bigger club or gone on to better things. When you compare with Swansea, who at one stage went from Graham Potter to Steve Cooper and then Russell Martin, it is clearly an area of expertise that has been sorely lacking.
Embed from Getty ImagesYou like to think that any forward-thinking club would have manager and player targets for every eventuality; promotion, relegation and staying put, at any one time. A reactive approach puts you at a disadvantage to those clubs that are on the ball and better prepared. The problem is that history has shown that Cardiff appear to make it up as they go along and often get it wrong, so there is very little faith that this time will be any different.
Aaron Ramsey is the current incumbent and his temporary appointment has galvanised supporters. Whether he fancies the job long term is another matter entirely though. It sounds like he’s keen to play one more year, presumably with designs on finishing his playing career at next summer’s World Cup, but he’s rarely been fit in the last couple of years.
Were the club to formally offer Ramsey the job, maybe that would prompt him to reassess. Whether or not that they intend to offer him a new playing contract directly feeds into this situation, as it does for his current assistant Joe Ralls. Chris Gunter is also in charge of the Wales Under-19’s, so he would have a decision to make too. Ralls had a contract extension dependent on making a certain number of appearances this year, but presumably that target was not reached.
Of the three, Gunter is actually the most qualified, having earned his Pro Licence, while Ramsey has his A Licence and Ralls is currently working towards his. Seeing as both Ramsey and Ralls are already on the payroll, you would assume that their appointment would appeal to Vincent Tan, who has proved to be a fan of both younger managers and promoting from within. It would also be favourably received by supporters, as the trio represent an exciting, respected collective. The ball would appear to be very much in Ramsey’s court.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn terms of the alternatives, Nathan Jones remains a popular option and he would presumably jump at the chance, unless he gets promoted in the play-offs with Charlton. He has the passion that supporters crave and knowledge of League One, but there will be apprehension at board level regarding his terrible tenures at both Stoke and Southampton. It would be very costly to buy him out of his current contract too, but it would be money well spent if it inspired the fanbase.
Des Buckingham could be a smart option. Currently available, he guided Oxford to the Championship via the play-offs last year, but was dismissed mid-season. Rob Edwards is also back on the market, but the former Welsh international was a Premier League manager this time last year, so the third tier would likely not be the most appealing offer he receives in the coming weeks.
The great fear is that Cardiff have not given any of this a great deal of thought yet, as they tend to favour a wait and see approach. Omer Riza spent a great deal of his tenure on the ropes, so surely they have some idea of the potential runners and riders, but they simply cannot afford a repeat of last summer, where a renewal of Erol Bulut’s contract dragged on for several weeks after the season ended.
Goodwill is at an all-time low and more indecision would be greeted with fury. Supporters have endured several maddening, disappointing seasons and they’re not prepared to accept another one. A fresh start has been enforced upon all of us, but that needs to be underpinned by hope, direction and inspiration.