CARDIFF CITY HAVE sacked manager Malky Mackay, following a 3-0 defeat at home to Southampton in the Premier League yesterday.
The news comes as little surprise, given the public disintegration of the relationship between himself and owner Vincent Tan in recent weeks. Just last week, the Malaysian businessman emailed Mackay informing him to resign or face the sack, while also criticising numerous aspects of the manager’s performance.
That ultimatum was briefly lifted when chairman Mehmet Dalman stated Mackay would be in charge for the “forseeable future”, but the reprieve did not last long. Tan is likely to face a backlash from the Welsh club’s supporters, who had previously expressed their continuing support for Mackay. A brief statement from the club this afternoon read:
The Board of Directors at Cardiff City Football Club have today relieved Malky Mackay of his duties. A new first team manager will be appointed and announced in due course.”
Cardiff are 16th in the Premier League at the midway point, having won promotion as clear winners of the Championship last season. Mackay had inspired the team to just one victory in their last eight league fixtures, although many critics argued that the Scottish boss could turn that run of form around.
A win over Man City on the second weekend of the season allowed Cardiff fans to dream of a promising campaign, but victories over Fulham, Swansea and West Brom were the only three-pointers to follow. Tan was also understood to be angry over a reported £15 million overspend in the club’s transfer budget during the summer.
