Cardiff City face a vital rebuild following relegation to League One. We discuss the key priorities they must get right: clarifying the managerial role future, addressing gaps across the squad, especially in attack and midfield, and working within tighter financial limits.
Retaining key players like Callum Robinson, Perry Ng, and rising star Cian Ashford will be crucial.
Establishing a clear footballing philosophy and trusting youth development could define their promotion push next season.
Retaining key players like Callum Robinson, Perry Ng, and rising star Cian Ashford will be crucial.
Establishing a clear footballing philosophy and trusting youth development could define their promotion push next season.
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00:00Well, as we've discussed previously this week, Cardiff City were relegated from the Championship to League One in what was a horrendous moment for the club and all associated with it in South Wales.
00:15Cardiff is a club with such rich history and going down to England's third tier is the last thing they wanted in terms of what the history of the club means and what it wants going forward as well.
00:28So now it's very much a case of rebuilding and getting the club back on a level playing field.
00:34Of course, that will have to start in League One. Cardiff, of course, a club not so long ago were in the Premier League and that just shows how far they've fallen and how much the club has got to rebuild to get it back to where it would like to be.
00:46At least for now, perhaps back in the Championship before any lofty ambitions of the Premier League.
00:52So let's go now to Charles Hague Jones. Charles, what I'd like to know is how did Cardiff go about rebuilding in League One?
01:02Of course, many players' futures will be thrown into doubt because some might not want to play at that level of English football if they think that it's beneath them.
01:10That may sound like arrogance but, of course, some players, as we know, are like that. Those who stay, what needs to be done for them and in terms of the staff as well, what can they do on the surface?
01:20Because, of course, there's a whole different conversation to be had at board and ownership level, but what can be done in the playing staff and in terms of standards at the club, just from those on the pitch and those working with those on the pitch as well, before we get into the big conversations about which direction the club is going as a whole?
01:39What are your thoughts?
01:42Yeah, obviously, following their relegation to League One, it's their first drop to the third tier since 2002.
01:51The club faces a pivotal summer, let's not deny that, let's not overshadow that.
01:56It's a massive opportunity to rebuild and position themselves for a swift return to the Championship.
02:02We have to lay out the objectives here.
02:04It is simple as what Birmingham City have just done.
02:07Go down, refresh, rejuvenate, come straight back up with possibly the League One points record.
02:13But that's not as easy when you don't have the investment that Birmingham City had had.
02:18Cardiff City are now in a massively precarious position.
02:21Obviously, you have to look at a few key priorities for rebuilding.
02:27Firstly, the managerial direction and Ramsey, where is he going to stand?
02:32How is he going to get on in terms of what he wants to do?
02:35He was a player until the last couple of weeks or so when he took this job on board.
02:41There's been no fairytale ending for him.
02:45The value of the club will decrease massively by around 40%.
02:49How can I go about that is going to be really tough.
02:52They need to really make sure they are focusing on cost-effective signings and maximising the value of the assets they already have.
03:01There are a few.
03:02You have to give that credit.
03:05Callum Robinson, for example.
03:07Can he be the man to go and score goals and get them back?
03:11You do need a player who is going to get you over that line.
03:14You know, 12 goals in the Championship this season.
03:17I'm sure he can hit really near 20 in League One.
03:20The leap, the drop, obviously, the drop in standards is massive.
03:25You know, that can't be overstated.
03:26So, it's a chance for him.
03:27If he wanted to sort of revitalise, he's obviously 30 years old now.
03:31Can he take the drop down with Cardiff?
03:33Believe in the project and get firing and get them back up?
03:36I feel that that's certainly possible.
03:39You know, you look at the likes of Perry and Gee.
03:41What's he going to do?
03:42There was Premier League interest from him only a summer or so ago.
03:46You know, he's still a standout performer in this Cardiff side.
03:49It's still a real chance for him to be a top player.
03:52And League One could be a good chance to revitalise his career.
03:55You know, there's no doubt that many players in Cardiff's side
03:59have had a poor or below pass season.
04:02And then you look at the two, you know, the young players,
04:05Reuben Colwell, Kean Ashford.
04:07You know, both Wales, both, you know, firing with confidence this season
04:12despite being through it.
04:13Obviously, Colwell, 23.
04:15Ashford, 20 years old.
04:17I mean, a massive chance for them to sort of go and fire
04:20and get their home club, get their club back to the Championship.
04:24That would be so nice for them.
04:26So I feel that there's a few factors there that Cardiff need to get right.
04:30You know, if they can keep hold of these players
04:32and if they can maybe make a few shrewd signings as well
04:35to get them back up.
04:36But there's got to be a clear objective set.
04:38And it's to get straight back to the Championship at the first time of asking.