Trust News

Keith Morgan

Trust chair Keith Morgan reports on a meeting with Cardiff City’s Chief Executive Ken Choo in the wake of the first anniversary of the publication Fans-Led Review published by former Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch, MP.

November 2022 represented one year on from the publication of the original report, a copy of which was sent to the club at the time. The anniversary was marked by a meeting in the House of Lords last month which was attended by Tracey Crouch MP who chaired the committee which created the final version of the report, a number of Peers and MPs, senior members of the FSA (Football Supporters Association), representatives of the EFL and Premier League and a small number of representatives of football club Supporters Trusts. I was fortunate to be invited as one of those Trusts and afterwards was also able to have conversations with a number of South Wales MPs who are all in support of the paper. At the time I prepared a report on the meeting which was sent to our CCST members.

What is important to note is that there is strong cross-party support for getting the report enshrined into law up to and including the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition level and pledges from the current Sports Minister and the Chair of the Parliamentary DCMS (Digital Culture Media Sport) Committee to get a White Paper before Parliament “imminently” – within weeks rather than months. There has been a pledge from the same people that the report contents will not be “watered down” and that the only required amendments will be those involving wording necessary to get the legislation in place.

Throughout 2022 I have copied in updates on the position to the club asking for their views on its contents but the response has always been that the club did not consider it an appropriate time to discuss the matter. Earlier this month I received a call from Ken Choo agreeing to a meeting to discuss the topic and that meeting took place on Friday, December 16th.

The meeting was attended by club CEO Ken Choo and club Finance Director Phillip Jenkins and the key contents of the FLR report and current position were discussed in some detail. As a reminder, the key recommendations in the report are as follows:

1. The appointment of an Independent Regulator to oversee the Corporate Governance of the current football authorities such as the FA, Premier League and EFL. This is due to the deemed failure of those authorities to regulate themselves properly, leading to problems at Chelsea, Bury, Birmingham and Bolton amongst others.

2. A new improved owners and directors test. The current one is fairly weak and the new one is designed to ensure that not only are they fit in the general sense but can demonstrate that they actually apply their disclosed skills to a specific role at the club.

3. A new approach to corporate governance at clubs to try and ensure that they do not spend beyond their means and get into financial trouble.

4. A requirement of a published statement at each club as to how they deal with diversity and equality issues, to be overseen by the new Independent Regulator. This will include a policy on things like LGBT issues.

5. The creation of a fans` shadow board of directors at each club with whom the club`s directors will be obliged to consult on a regular and frequent basis. The club will have no opportunity to appoint members of that board which will be made up of fans elected by the fans themselves, The representatives will have to confirm and be seen that they have no conflict to their independence such as a material financial, family or contractual interest in the club.

6. A requirement that the club shows that it is at all times protecting the club`s heritage for its fans. i.e it will not be able to change a club`s location, name, colours or badge without the specific proven consent of a large majority of its fans. As a fan, it is embarrassing that our club is specifically mentioned in the report as a bad example in this regard and a reason to change the rules.

7. A fairer distribution of income from t.v. rights etc. between the Premier League and the EFL. This is an ongoing discussion between those two bodies.

8. Equal treatment for women`s football regarding the above topics.

9. Better protection of players` welfare in areas such as their recovery from long-term injury, mental health etc.

The key areas above were discussed with Ken and Phil in a constructive and sensible manner with comments from both sides of the discussion. The club wishes to have formal discussions only after the White Paper is issued, but has pledged to then sit down with the Trust in an effort to work with the club to implement the future legal requirements and overcome any objections which might be raised by the club owner. As and when such a meeting takes place and as and when the White Paper is issued I will keep Trust members updated.

Keith Morgan, Trust Chair

Trust Chair Keith Morgan attended a meeting chaired by club chair Mehmet Dalman at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Keith’s report of that meeting follows:

“On Saturday, December 17th,  I was invited to attend a meeting involving supporter groups and which was chaired by CCFC Chair Mehmet Dalman. The meeting started at 12.30pm in the club boardroom, lasted for approximately 30 minutes and was immediately followed elsewhere in the stadium by the club chair holding a meeting with local media. The invitation was at short notice and had no advance agenda issued to attendees.

“In addition to the club chair, the club was represented by CEO Ken Choo, Head of Operations Wayne Nash, Finance Director Phillip Jenkins, Head of Communications Mark Denham and CCFC Foundation Head Gavin Hawkey. In attendance to make contributions on legal matters was Chris Nott, a Senior Partner in Capital Law, the club`s UK legal advisors.

“Supporters were represented by myself,  some members of the Supporters Club Committee and Keiran Jones of the Disabled Supporters Group.

“You may have already seen a WalesOnline report by Paul Abbandonato following his meeting with the club. I have had the opportunity of discussing this with Paul and can confirm that his report on what was discussed at his meeting is consistent with what was discussed at the supporters` groups meeting which preceded it.

“Some points arising from Paul`s report and some further points of clarification:

1. Fans present were indeed generally supportive of the club`s stance in continuing with various legal matters which are complex and involve many matters, as follows:

2. The club is indeed currently under a transfer embargo imposed by the EFL following the loss of the appeal case to CAS announced in August this year which effectively brought into play the FIFA ruling against the club in September 2019 which imposed a three-transfer window transfer embargo unless and until the initial transfer fee installment of just over £5m is paid to Nantes. CCFC have reiterated that they have no current intention of paying that money until all ongoing matters are resolved. Mehmet Dalman expressed his opinion that the matter will be resolved in the near future but could not promise that this would occur before the end of the January 2023 transfer window.

3. Despite social media claims to the contrary, the Swiss Federal Tribunal (SFT) has not rejected a club claim to them to have the CAS decision reversed or otherwise amended. Preparations for a hearing, which is likely to take place in January or February 2023, are ongoing but the details have to be kept entirely confidential under SFT rules so no further information could be given to the meeting. The SFT will only consider an appeal of a CAS decision if it can be shown that there was a fundamental legal mistake, error or omission in reaching their decision. They cannot overturn the football decision that the Sala transfer was complete and that the transfer fee is payable but may rule that any payment is deferred until a successful counterclaim for financial loss arising from the sad demise of Emiliano Sala is settled.

4. An insurance industry Press article recently stated that CCFC is taking legal action against their insurance brokers (a large international organisation) for something that they failed to do when insuring Emiliano Sala at the time of his arrival at the club. Again, legal confidentiality prevented a great deal of detail on this but it would appear that the club`s regular policy of signing players and then insuring them shortly thereafter has not been queried beforehand by those brokers or insurers. For previous transfers, this ended up being irrelevant but in the Sala case his sad death occurred between what FIFA and CAS have ruled was the date of completion of his transfer and the relevant insurance being finalised. A claim could not be made against the insurers beforehand as the club remained adamant that the player`s transfer had not been completed and that there was therefore no “asset” to insure. The CAS ruling has changed that.

5. Other social media claims include one that the club has set aside the cash to pay the full Sala transfer fee and related costs. This was specifically denied by the Chair and clarified (as has been done before on social media by others) by Phillip Jenkins. Ever since the May 2019 accounts, a provision has been made in the club`s audited accounts for payment in full of the transfer fee. This has nothing to do with a cash reserve to pay it (which does not exist). If eventually, it has to be paid it is prudent to provide for it and ensure a continuing compliance with EFL Profitability and Sustainability Rules (the club remains compliant even after that provision). If it has to be paid than it will not have an adverse impact on the club`s compliance. If it doesn`t have to be paid then the club`s balance sheet position will improve by over £20m.”

Congratulations to Trust member Paul Evans whose name was drawn out of the hat and is the lucky winner of the £50 first prize in the Bluebirds Brainteaser quiz in the September edition of Moving to a Different Beat – the Supporters’ Trust magazine.

Here are the answers:

1. Which City manager has the first names Robin Michael?

Quite why Robin Michael Lawrence is known as “Lennie” I don’t know but he is one of the select band of managers who have had a career in management exceeding 1000 games. Lennie joined us towards the end of the 2001/02 season as a consultant to assist Alan Cork who, at the time, was presiding over a post-Christmas collapse in form that threatened the promotion that Sam Hammam expected him to deliver. With promotions to the top flight of English football with Charlton and Middlesbrough on his CV he was well qualified and on February 18,  2002, Alan Cork was sacked and Lennie was on hand to take over at short notice. His first signing for us was Andy Campbell on loan from Middlesbrough to replace the injured Earnie. That season ended with the disastrous playoff defeat to Stoke. Andy Campbell’s signing was made permanent the following season which ended with his famous goal in the playoff final and Lennie added another promotion to his trophy cabinet. With the club established in the second tier but in financial turmoil, Lennie made way for Dave Jones in May 2005. Lennie, however, did make another appearance at the City in 2016 as assistant to Paul Trollope. As we know that did not end well.

2. This international scored on debut for the City in 2007 and shares a name with the Judge in the Lady Chatterley’s Lover Obscenity Trial – who is he?

Jason Byrne. Perhaps linking Cardiff City’s Jason Byrne to High Court Judge Sir Lawrence Byrne is a bit off the wall. He was famous for ridiculing the infamous prosecution statement in that case “Would you approve of your young sons, young daughters—because girls can read as well as boys—reading this book? Is it a book you would have lying around your own house? Is it a book that you would even wish your wife or your servants to read?” thus exposing how out of touch with reality the Establishment was at the time. Anyway, Jason Byrne was a bit of a punt by Dave Jones which did not come off. He was an established goalscorer in the Irish League and he came off the bench to score the winner away to Wolves in January 2007 in front of no City fans at all as they were banned from Molyneux but it was to the delight of hundreds of City fans at Ninian Park who were watching it on beamback. Byrne only lasted 11 appearances signing for Bohemians in Ireland in January 2008. He is the second-highest goalscorer ever in the Irish League and is Robbie Keane’s cousin. We got the wrong member of the family!

3. Between 2019 and 2021 this City player and Northern Ireland International played 31 times on loan for a team that played at the Tony Macaroni – who is he?

Ciaron Brown. An integral part of the Mick McCarthy 5 Centre Half system that did so well in conceding 7 goals in games against West Bromwich Albion and Swansea in 2021. What was McCarthy thinking? We signed Ciaron in January 2018 after a trial period, his previous club being Wealdstone. He spent two loan spells at Livingston who play at the Almondvale Stadium which, at the time of his loan spells, was known as the Tony Macaroni for sponsorship reasons. The stadium is also referred to as “The Spaghettihad”. Ciaron was capped for Northern Ireland whilst he was with us but now plies his trade with Oxford United after having been part of the big clear-out last summer.

4. He scored 63 goals in 159 appearances between 2006 and 2011 and his first name is Rocky – who is he?

What’s that coming over the hill…..it’s Rocky Michael Chopra. Michael had 4 spells at the City, 2 on loan. Initially signed for £500,000 from Newcastle in the summer of 2006 his eventful first season saw him score 22 goals from 42 league appearances including a hat trick against Leicester City and also 2 sendings off. Losing him to Sunderland for £5,000,000 after only one season was very disappointing but it was good business considering what we had paid for him. After his departure, the high profile arrivals of Messrs Sinclair, Fowler and Hasselbaink seemed as if it might assuage the feeling of disappointment but the reality turned out differently. Michael found his chances at Sunderland limited and rejoined us for 2 separate loan spells in 2008/09. Michael signed again permanently in July 2009 for a club record fee of £3,000,000 scoring 7 goals in his first 4 games including a hat trick at Plymouth. He finished that season with 21 league and cup goals. 2010/11 was his final season with us with 11 goals in 37 appearances. He suffered an injury which kept him out of 9 games at the end of the season his first start after that being the disastrous 3-0 defeat to Reading in the playoff semi-final. It was his last appearance in a City shirt. A troubled individual, City fans will have many happy memories. For me, the boots on fire goal celebration against Bristol City, his 4 goals in the 6-1 win against Derby and his 90^th minute winner against the Jacks in 2010 stand out. Thanks for the memories, Michael.

5. Which Cardiff City player shares a name with a Hollywood Actor who was nominated for an Oscar playing opposite Marilyn Monroe?

Don Murray. Film actor Don Murray was nominated for an Oscar for playing opposite Marilyn Monroe in the film “Bus Stop” in 1956. Marilyn Monroe appeared in 29 films and only 3 were considered good enough to have received acting Oscar nominations and Bus Stop was one of them. Actor Don Murray had long and successful acting career in films and television. The other Don Murray had a long and successful career wearing the number 5 shirt for Cardiff City.

6. Which former Cardiff City goalkeeper was nicknamed “The Flying Pig” during his spell at Bristol Rovers?

Jim Eadie. We signed Jim from the extravagantly named Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. He made his debut for us in March 1970 and played 2 games in the absence of the man with the flat cap, Fred Davies. Fred joined Bournemouth at the end of that season and Jimmy Scoular, deciding that Jim was not to be No 1 keeper, signed Fumbling Frank Parsons from Crystal Palace. Frank played the first 10 games of the season the last one being a 4-3 home defeat to Middlesbrough in October 1970. It is worth checking out the highlights of this game on YouTube just to see a 25-yarder blasted in By Bobby Woodruff and a stunning volley by Peter King which I still believe is one of the best goals I have seen a City player score. Anyway, down the other end, despite saving a penalty, Frank was badly at fault for 2 goals which resulted in Jim getting the No 1 shirt for the remainder of a league campaign which saw the 5-1 defeat at Sheffield United and the end of our Division 1 promotion dreams. Jim started the 1971/72 season as first choice but some indifferent form resulted in new signing, the excellent Bill Irwin, establishing himself as first choice. Jim never played again for the City. After a short loan spell at Chester, he signed for Bristol Rovers keeping a clean sheet in his first 5 games and establishing himself as a favourite with the Gasheads acquiring the nickname “The Flying Pig”. I wonder if he looks back on his career and thinks of being in goals in a Cardiff City 1-0 win over Real Madrid as the pinnacle?

7. This international ‘keeper has a name that contains 10 vowels and 14 consonants and played 6 games on loan for us in 2008-09 – who is he?

Dimitrios Konstantopoulos. We signed Dimi on loan from Coventry City in a season where injuries to keepers sent Dave Jones into the loan market. I think it’s safe to say that, without resorting to reference books, Dimi is the only Cardiff City goalkeeper to score an own goal on debut which he managed at Wolves when he dropped the ball over his own line to deny the City a win. He only played 6 games for us but his stay was studded with blunders including a costly one against Norwich. Conspiracy Theorists nicknamed him “Agent Dimi” as his previous loan spell immediately before joining us was with the Jacks. After his final game the on loan Stuart Taylor and a fit again Tom Heaton saw the season out.

8. The last time The Stones played Ninian Park was New Year’s Day 1992 and those of us who were there have never forgotten it – please explain.

The Stones is the nickname of Maidstone United. I remember turning up on a sunny New Year’s Day. 1992 at Ninian Park. I was suffering from a hangover from the night before and ended up wondering how many of the City Team had been on the town as well as I witnessed what many City fans of a certain age consider to be one of the worst home defeats ever. City were unbeaten in their previous 8 league games with Chris Pike and Carl Dale banging them in regularly – they scored 56 goals between them that season. In contrast, Maidstone had only one win in their previous 11 games and were having significant financial difficulties. I suppose, in circumstances such as those, City fans should know better but, nevertheless, expectations were high and an above-average crowd of 8,023 turned out. A reasonable first half ended in a defensive shambles with defender John Williams deliberately handling the ball on the goal line resulting in a deserved red card on the stroke of halftime. Liburd Henry duly converted and we went into the break 1-0 down with only 10 men. In an abysmal second half Maidstone scored 4 more with only Gavin Ward in the City goal seemingly interested. This blot on the landscape turned out to be more of a blip as the City then went on a further run of 8 unbeaten league games. A bad day at the office or a heavy night – who knows but it was an awful day.  Anyway, Maidstone celebrated their record league win but in the close season, they went into liquidation following that season’s other financial victim, Aldershot.

9. Which future Cardiff City player played for Leeds United in our famous 2002 FA Cup victory?

Robbie Fowler. He was one of 3 high profile “ageing legs” signings along with Messrs Sinclair and Hasselbaink in the wake of Michael Chopra’s departure to Sunderland. Arriving on a free but, I imagine, not insignificant wages, he made his debut at Carrow Road in September 2007 in a 2-1 win and he scored his first goals getting both goals in a 2-2 draw at home to Preston in his 3rd appearance. A recurrent hip problem and his subsequent injury record did make some of us wonder about the effectiveness of the club’s medical procedures when signing but perhaps he was regarded as a bit of a gamble that might pay off with the added advantage of shirt sales. Anyway, the inevitable hip operation meant only 13 League and Cup starts scoring 6 times. His one season here could hardly be called a success. A player with an envious goal-scoring record at the highest level in his heyday, Fowler was very much a “Marmite” character with his infamous cocaine-sniffing goal celebration and on pitch homophobic gestures towards Graeme Le Saux resulting in deserved vitriol being aimed at him.

10. He shares a name with one of the Trumpton Firemen and left the Cardiff City coaching staff in May 2022 – who is he?

For people of a certain age the Mantra “Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb” brings back fond memories of the stop-motion days of animation exemplified by Trumpton, Camberwick Green and later Wallace and Gromit. Innocent times before the prevalence of computer animation and CGI. And amongst those names read out in the roll call by Commander of the Trumpton Fire Brigade, Captain Flack, is the name “Dibble” which in the context of this question can only refer to Andy Dibble. Andy made his debut for us in goals in May 1982 in what was Ron Healey’s last season with us when we were relegated to Division 3. The following season he played 24 times in competition with Steve Humphries, Martin Thomas, Jim Brown and Eric Steele. However, it was in 1983/84 that Len Ashurst made him first choice and he played 47 times. However, our financial difficulties meant that we could not turn down a bid of £125,000 from Luton so he, together with Gary Bennett and Gordon Owen were sold to fill the coffers and we did not have a goalkeeper that was virtually ever-present in a season until George Wood in 1988/89. After leaving Luton he spent 9 years at Manchester City and rounded off a 24-year playing career in 2006 at Accrington Stanley. Andy is now goalkeeping Coach at Motherwell.

The Disabled Supporters’ Associaton (DSA) has arranged a 20th anniversary celebration of the Cardiff City-QPR Play-Off Final event on Thursday, January 26, at Cardiff City Stadium (Level 4).

Bluebirds stars Andy Legg and Jason Bowen will be attending and Andy Campbell is dropping in on Zoom. David Giles will be compere for the evening. There will be a Q&A with the players, along with 20-minute highlights of the big game.

The event is free to all Cardiff City supporters and is limited to the first 400.

Get your ticket by emailing ccfcdsa@gmail.com.

House of Commons meeting on Fans Review

Strong support for turning the Fans-led Review of Football Governance into a White Paper was given at a London meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Football Supporters attended by Trust chair Keith Morgan.

Keith Morgan said: “A number of MPs and Lords were present, including current Sports Minister Stuart Andrew MP and Kevin Miles, Chief Executive of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA).

“All politicians spoke very strongly in support of the report being converted into a White Paper ASAP. I pointed out that an imminent White Paper was needed to ensure Cardiff City club directors treat the report seriously enough to engage with us as a Trust.

“It was disclosed at the meeting that Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton already have fan advisory boards at their clubs and that Tottenham Hotspur will do very soon.

“The Sports Minister confirmed that, even if some wording adjustments are required to convert the Fans-led Review into legislation, its key contents and recommendations will definitely not be “watered down” or omitted.

After the meeting, Keith Morgan met Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan who is very supportive of the work of the Trust.

“Kevin is hugely supportive of the Fans-Led Review and the work we do as a Trust. He wants to keep in regular contact with us on a frequent basis. He has a meeting with Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media & Sport soon and will be pushing for a speedy implementation of the White Paper.”

“We also have confirmation of support from Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens and Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns.”

The Fans-led Review was set up in the wake of the bid by top English clubs to join a European Super League. It has promised a series of wide-ranging measures to give fans a greater say in their clubs.

Report on Fan-led Review of Football Governance One Year On can be viewed by clicking on the link: https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fan-led-review-crouch-the-time-for-reform-is-now/