Cardiff City

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Cardiff City Under-21s won a penalty shootout at Ammanford to claim a place in the second round of the Nathaniel MG Cup.

After the tie finished goalless on 90 minutes, Darren Purse's young Bluebirds progressed thanks to successful spot-kicks from Luke Pearce, Jac Thomas and Troy Perrett, with Ammanford missing all three of their penalties.

Cardiff's youngsters reached the last four of the competition last year.

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Cardiff City secured a pair of wins as they faced Cambridge United in two behind-closed-doors pre-season fixtures.

Isaak Davies, Callum Robinson and Chris Willock were all on the scoresheet as Brian Barry-Murphy's side won the first 60-minute fixture 3-1 - with Shayne Lavery scoring for the League Two side.

Yousef Salech and Cian Ashford both netted in the second contest as the Bluebirds won 2-0 - with 23 Cardiff players featuring across the pair of fixtures.

Cardiff return to action with a pre-season friendly against Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers at the TSG Training Centre on Wednesday, 23 July (14:00 BST).

Barry-Murphy's side kick-start their League One campaign against Peterborough United on Saturday, 2 August (12:30 BST).

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Cardiff City Supporters' Trust (CCST) has questioned the Bluebirds' handling of attempts to purchase the club by a consortium that includes Gareth Bale.

Wales legend Bale is fronting a bid to take over his hometown club, with the 111-cap former international recently stating the group have submitted "a brand new offer" for Cardiff owner Vincent Tan to consider.

The League One side have not publicly commented on the situation, although the CCST has sought clarification on the matter from the club.

And in a statement, the fans' body expressed disappointment over Cardiff's failure to issue a public statement that it says would give supporters the "clarity they deserve".

A statement read: "You will recall that, when reports first emerged of a bid to acquire Cardiff City, we contacted the club to seek clarification.

"We received a response that no formal bid had been made but a notice of intention to make such an offer had been received.

"Since then, speculation regarding a bid has significantly ramped up not just on social media but also in the national press.

"Reports that a quantified bid has been made, together with interviews with Gareth Bale who is reported to be involved with a consortium, is causing consternation amongst the fanbase who, in our view, should be kept in the picture.

"We have since contacted directly the three Europe-based directors of the club seeking further clarification of the situation and asking for an official public statement to be made.

"We received a reply that the club are not prepared to make a public statement in response to what they say are 'rumours'.

"To say that this is a very unsatisfactory situation is an understatement. The club need to confirm the position so that supporters get the clarity they deserve. We will continue to press the club to make a formal statement."

Speaking in June, Bale said it would be "a dream come true" to purchase the Bluebirds, outlining his desire to take the club back to the Premier League.

On the group's latest bid, the former Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and Los Angeles forward told Front Office Sports Today: "We think it's a great offer, one that we're very happy with.

"We think it's very fair, if not more than fair, and it's something we hope the current owners will take seriously.

"We'd love them to accept so we can take full control and get on with what we want to do and create Cardiff into a club that we know it can be."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Yousef Salech struck twice in the first half as Cardiff City completed their pre-season trip to Spain with a 3-0 win over National League Southend United.

Wales international Rubin Colwill was provider for both goals scored by Salech, who joined Cardiff in January.

Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy made wholesale changes for the second half, among them Joel Colwill, who scored a third late on at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia.

Dimitrious Goutas has returned to the Turkish Super Lig after agreeing a two-year deal with Genclerbirligi.

Centre-back Goutas, 31, left Cardiff City with his contract up this summer.

The Greece international spent two years with the Bluebirds, scoring five goals in 81 appearances for the Welsh club.

But he departed after Cardiff's relegation to League One and gone back to Turkey, where he played for Sivasspor before moving to Wales.

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Cardiff City were denied victory by a stoppage time goal in their first pre-season friendly against Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim in Spain.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Cardiff started with a different side for the second half and David Turnbull put them ahead three minutes after the interval.

Johor Darul Ta'zim – also known as the Southern Tigers - equalised just before the hour mark but Rubin Colwill's free-kick three minutes later restored Cardiff's lead .

The Bluebirds were reduced to 10 men with six minutes remaining when Yousef Salech was shown a red card and the opponents scored in stoppage time to earn a draw at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia.

Brian Barry-Murphy's team face National League side Southend United at the Pinatar Arena on Saturday.

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Four of Cardiff City's League One fixtures in August have been selected for live television coverage.

The Bluebirds' season-opener at home to Peterborough United on Saturday, 2 August will now start at 12:30 BST in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Brian Barry-Murphy's men will again be under the lenses in their first away match of the season against Port Vale, which has been moved to Thursday, 7 August at 20:00 BST.

Another away game, at Luton Town on Saturday, 23 August, will now kick off at 12:30 BST.

The fourth televised game will see the Bluebirds back at Cardiff City Stadium against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, 30 August at 12:30 BST.

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Cardiff City youngster Isaac Jefferies has signed a new contract with the League One club, while the Bluebirds have added three new recruits to their under-21 squad.

Winger Jefferies, 20, made his first-team debut in the EFL Cup defeat to Southampton last September having been at the club since he was aged eight.

The length of Jefferies' new deal has not been specified.

Cardiff, meanwhile, have added right-back Charlie O'Brien, centre-back Gabriel Keita and midfielder Matthew Apter (above) to their under-21 ranks.

O'Brien, 20, arrives at Cardiff having previously played for League of Ireland side Cobh Ramblers.

Keita, 18, joins having previously been on the books at Norwich City while 19-year-old Apter moves to Wales after leaving Everton.

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Cardiff City's coaching team for the 2025-25 season has been finalised, with new head coach Brian Barry-Murphy bringing in another member of his former Rochdale staff in Kevin Gibbins.

Gibbins has been appointed head of performance at Cardiff following the departure of Jonny Northeast, who has left the League One club for Besiktas.

Gibbins previously worked under Barry-Murphy at Rochdale and leaves the National League to join the Bluebirds.

"Kevin has a deep understanding of the adaptation physically in terms of what fitness we require," Barry-Murphy told the Cardiff website.

"His appointment is of paramount importance, and I'm really grateful for the club to give me that support to get somebody in who I believe is best in class in such an important role."

Gibbins joins former Rochdale colleague Lee Riley, who has left a role in Manchester City's academy to become Cardiff's assistant head coach.

Gavin Ward is to stay on as the Welsh club's goalkeeping coach having returned to his former club in September 2024.

Cardiff have also brought in data analyst Rob Clarke, who they say will complement lead first-team analyst Luke Foulkes and first-team analyst Matt Jenkins.

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Cardiff City have allowed forward Roko Simic to join Bundesliga 2 team Karlsruher SC on loan for the 2025-26 season.

The 21-year-old Italian signed for the Bluebirds in August 2024 and has yet to make his competitive debut for Cardiff, spending part of last season on loan at Kortrijk in Belgium.

BBC Sport Wales asked Cardiff City fans for their views on potential new ownership of the club by a Gareth Bale-led consortium and the new management after the appointment of Brian Barry-Murphy as head coach.

Kathryn:

I have supported Cardiff City for 60 years and over the past few seasons I have not enjoyed it at all. Tan has no clue how to run a football club and it breaks my heart to find us in Division One. We need some fresh blood and I would be delighted to see Gareth Bale and his Associates come in and make my club a Premier League Club again.

David:

I think the club need a change of direction, no identity or solid leadership for a while now at Cardiff City, we became an established Championship team but then struggled with lack of, or correct investment, in the right players and managers. Grateful to Mr V Tan for the many good seasons and taking us to the Premiership and previous good players and managers, but now in League 1, a rebuild and new leadership is required to steer the club in right direction and unite fans and club again.

Callum:

BBM quite an underwhelming appointment, but has fantastic opportunity to work with some really talented youngsters. Bale would have the City rocking. Although the fans would take anyone to replace Tan at this point, not just an American consortium fronted by Bale!

Shaun:

[Bale] Would make a lot of us fans very happy. Tan selling generally would but with a footballing hero local lad would be even better.

Kevin:

Very average season ahead. Can't see how we will attract good players in League One. Need a change of ownership and a clear football strategy.

Richard:

Fantastic news that Gareth Bale wants to spearhead a takeover of our club. We need people on the board with football knowledge unlike the present board of directors who are responsible for running down our club into League One.

Ben:

I hope Bale and co buy us! Having a fan at the wheel would make such a difference compared to someone who never shows up.

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Cardiff City will host League Two side Swindon Town in the first round of the EFL Cup, with the tie to be played in the week commencing 11 August.

Swindon, managed by the experienced Ian Holloway, finished 12th in the fourth tier last season.

The home draw will be welcome for new Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy, whose side go to Port Vale in League One on Saturday, 9 August.

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Cardiff City will take on Arsenal Under-21s in the 2025-26 EFL Trophy.

The Bluebirds were drawn alongside Newport County and Exeter City in Southern Group A of the competition on Wednesday.

Sixteen invited under-21 teams from Premier League clubs were added to the groups on Thursday, with the young Gunners now in alongside Cardiff.

The competition will begin in September, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the knockout stages.