Dalman's letter to Cardiff fans 'a token gesture'

Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts has described Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman's message to the club's supporters as "a token gesture".

Dalman's message to supporters comes after fans wrote a highly critical open letter to the board raising "serious concerns" about the state of the Championship club.

Cardiff are currently 23rd in the Championship table and Dalman says the club is ready to reshape its squad in the January transfer window to avoid the prospect of relegation to League One.

Speaking on BBC Wales' Feast of Football podcast, ex-Norwich City and Watford player Roberts believes Cardiff should appoint someone with a football background to their board.

"They've come out as a bit of a token gesture I feel," Roberts said.

"It's a bit too late for Mehmet Dalman to come out and he's talking about a relegation battle – I could have told you that a few weeks ago.

"They've got a massive, massive four months in front of them."

Roberts says the situation underlines the lack of communication between Cardiff's board and its fanbase.

"They never speak to the fans," Roberts added.

"They never give them a plan or where the club's heading to, what they want to do, how they want to approach things and what their thoughts are about bringing a new manager into place.

"There's literally zero communication and that hurts football fans. They like to be involved, they like to feel a part of their football club.

"Because at the end of the day it is the fans' football club.

"I think it would be a great shout for the club to get somebody to sit on the board who has played the game, possibly played for the football club.

"But I think it would be a really good shout for them to get a football-minded person on board to guide them in the right direction."