Cardiff eye stability, but brace for relegation fight

Cardiff City have won just five of their 24 Championship matches so far this season

Cardiff City's board accepts the Bluebirds are in a relegation battle this season as the club eyes more stability.

Chairman Mehmet Dalman, executive director and chief executive officer Ken Choo and non-executive director Steve Borley met members of the club's Supporters' Trust amid growing anger from fans with how the club is operating.

Minutes from the meeting - held prior to Cardiff's 1-1 draw with Coventry City on New Year's Day - have been published after fan groups twice united to call for talks with the club's board.

Dalman admitted that the club's "short-term strategy is to maintain status in the Championship".

Choo later added that owner Vincent Tan is "absolutely determined to get the club back into the Premier League".

Dalman conceded Cardiff's chiefs are keen to see more "stability and continuity" at the football club, with the chairman stating: "We have had too many changes in manager; too many players arriving and too many players leaving. That doesn't help for building long term."

Cardiff sacked manager Erol Bulut in September - after he oversaw the club's worst start to a season in 94 years - just three months after he signed a new two-year deal to remain in south Wales.

Despite an initial upturn in fortunes under caretaker boss Omer Riza - who has since been given the role until the end of 2024-25 - Cardiff sit second from bottom in the Championship before Saturday's trip to promotion-chasing Middlesbrough (15:00 GMT).

Dalman stated in the meeting that the club's wage bill was "competitive" enough to sustain a top-half Championship squad, but added that the side was "not punching above its weight"

But the club hope to improve their squad during the January transfer window, with Dalman admitting the winter market represents an "opportunity" for the Bluebirds.

As far as off-the-pitch matters are concerned, Dalman confirmed the club is continuing to lose money, although there has been a "substantial reduction" in losses.

Borley added that Cardiff are confident a proposed involvement in the Welsh League Cup would not affect its English Football League status.

He added that the proposals, which "will only benefit Welsh football", is initially for four years of participation.

The club also defended its engagement with supporters, citing recent Fan Advisory Board meetings, but both parties agreed to increase levels of communication from the board to the wider-supporter base.