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| Vincent Tan (L) with Malky Mackay (R) (Image: The Times) |
PR blunder for Cardiff City as misguided Mackay sees Bluebirds lurk in relegation zone before New Year
I have a passion for football. Regular readers of my blog would realise this. And having been born and raised in Cardiff, you could imagine how I felt earlier this year when my local football team promoted to the most popular and commercialised league in the world for the first time. The thought of teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, and my beloved Chelsea coming to the Welsh capital was indescribable. Considering Cardiff was in financial trouble this time 3-4 years ago, it was almost unimaginable that this side would be where they are today.
However, despite living in dreamland, things haven't been easy for Cardiff this season. They are learning the hard way that top flight football is both extremely competitive and challenging. Only the very few ambitious, yet deluded supporters were expecting Cardiff to have gone through their first season in the Premier League scar-less. Right now, Cardiff finds themselves in a tricky situation. As 2013 draws to a close, the Bluebirds are in the dreaded relegation dogfight and to make matters worse, the relationship between their owner and supporters is at its most fragile.
Cardiff's owner is Vincent Tan. He is a highly ambitious and wealthy Malaysian who is worth an estimated US$1.3 billion, if you believe in Forbes Magazine. He made McDonalds in his native land huge in the 1980s and also acquired Sports Toto, the Malaysian version of the UK's National Lottery. He purchased majority shares in Cardiff City in 2010 and has transformed the side that are now looking up and are among the most recognised clubs in the Far East, Europe and beyond. Tan has a clear vision and is very influential in the Far East, having close connections to politicians in the Malaysian government.
Despite his successful business ventures, Vincent Tan is controversial. He does things the Tan way. In 2012, he ditched Cardiff's traditional blue home kit and since then, the Welsh side now don the red shirt. It is an understatement to say that the City fans did not embrace this change. Throughout the 2012/13 season, there were plenty of protests which you'd think would give the Malaysian a headache. It didn't. He waited ever so patiently and had silenced his sceptics when Cardiff eased to Championship glory in May 2013. Fans were singing praise of Tan - the man who saved the Bluebirds when they were on the verge of going into administration.
Last summer, Vincent Tan invested tens-of-millions on Cardiff, making sure they buy the best players in preparation for the best league. Things were going to plan when the Welsh side beat Manchester City and Fulham early in the season.
However, the past few weeks have taken a turn for the worst. Since the beginning of October, Cardiff have only won twice and scored five goals in the process. The honeymoon period had firmly finished and people like Tan had to go to the drawing board, thinking of ways of getting Cardiff climbing up to 9th/10th rather than lurking in 16th/17th. Malky Mackay, Cardiff's very popular manager announced to media at a press conference last week he hopes to spend significantly on new players in the forthcoming January transfer window. It was made clear soon afterwards that Vincent Tan had other ideas as he admits the Scottish coach will have nothing to spend on players.
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| Cardiff City promotion parade, May 2013 (Image: My camera) |
This didn't just create confusion and awkwardness in the relationship between owner and manager, but the media revelled in this, speculating Mackay's future at Cardiff. This then got fans in their thousands to voice their anger towards Tan. It became apparent that supporters picked Mackay over Tan. The Malaysian's nerves were touch, pinched, and battered and in order to restore his pride, he sent a private email (which was later leaked) to Mackay saying "resign, or get sacked". This ultimatum was ill-timed with Christmas just around the corner, and a busy, crucial football schedule ahead.
After discovering he had nothing to spend in January, Mackay told BBC Radio Wales he will not resign which meant that Tan would give him the boot. You have to consider the fact that Mackay's job this time three months ago, had never been more secure. The sudden change has gotten people wondering how Cardiff crumbled in such a short space of time.
It is worth mentioning as, writing this, Mackay hasn't actually left Cardiff and he is in discussions with Tan about his future. As it stands, the Scot's job is safe, for now, despite the media hysteria.
Fans have the right to be angry about the current situation. Mackay is a very likeable person. I respect him and he deserves all the support he has received of late. It was his incredible coaching ability which got Cardiff to the Premier League.
However, I can't help but feel that recent hostilities could have been avoided. As Tan and Mackay have been working together for two-and-a-half-years, the Scot should have known better. Cardiff City's PR team misguided him and should have briefed him, saying it's important not to discuss to the press about his January's ambitions until you've discussed it with the person who is giving you the budget, i.e. Vincent Tan. In addition, Mackay should have been briefed about his future. The Scot could have kept this quiet, simply saying "I cannot comment at this moment. Vincent and I are going to discuss January and my future in the coming days." But instead, he was careless to think he could say anything without consulting with his boss first.
The role of the football manager is vital for the club as he trains, and picks his team every week. However, the coach is powerless when it comes to money matters. It's easy to say you want to spend in January, but you have to discuss this with the investor first before telling the media who are bound to write anything you tell them. Mackay almost committed career suicide, even if recent results have been no fault of his own. He was ill-advised. If you reveal your cards too soon, you're bound to be punished. Mackay has gotten away with it. He's kept his job for until at least New Year but he has to thank Cardiff's Cypriot Chairman Mehmet Dalman for this as he reportedly convinced Tan not to make a rash decision.
In football, management changes happen frequently - more often now than before. It doesn't make it morally right, but it is an executive decision from the top that make the difference. These decisions nowadays aren't financial. CEOs and owners have to decide for the best of the football club. It's his/her money they're spending and with the economy future uncertain at present, they cannot afford to risk. However, the economy is recovering, as we're kept on being told by the government, and this means owners like Vincent Tan are now increasingly ambitious, increasingly competitive. It's a new wave of management.
It's the general rule in employment, regardless of the field, that if someone above you doesn't believe you're doing as well as they expect, you expect the P45. If Mackay is doing great in the eyes of Cardiff's supporters, but not to Tan, it's only Tan's word that matters. I am not defending Tan's policies or his actions. I genuinely believe that Mackay has been unfairly treated over the last week. He's done a terrific job for Cardiff. However, would you go public about wanting a pay rise without consulting the person who's paying you? You'd be foolish if you did.
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