Trust News

Keith Morgan. Trust Chair

Well, what a year it has been at Cardiff City both on and off the field.

A second year of struggle saw the Bluebirds narrowly escape relegation to League One, saved only by Reading’s points deduction.

The punishment by the EFL over the Emiliano Sala transfer fee meant once again that we were unable to buy new players. But the new manager Erol Bulut and the senior management team managed to bring in some excellent signings, including the return of Arron Ramsey and Greek internationals Dimitrios Goutas and Manolis Siopis.

This led to improved results and, hopefully, additional signings in the January window will strengthen the team significantly and lead to a push towards the Championship playoff places.

Off the field, the new Fans Advisory Board (FAB) is being set up at Cardiff City and is expected to hold its first meeting in February. The Trust has two representatives on FAB, vice-chair Mike Spear and myself.

As you will know the Trust has been pushing for far greater involvement in our football club for many, many years and new legislation from the UK Government is ensuring that this now happens.

The Trust played a key role in pushing the need for legislation through the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) and we’re very pleased that clubs by law now have to consult their fans.

I would also like to thank all those members who were able to help our foodbank collection earlier this month. More than 1,000 items of food were donated and the Cardiff Foodbank received over £400 in cash and online donations with the Trust also making a £100 contribution. In these really tough economic times, it was a brilliant effort. We’d once again like to thank Cardiff City, its staff and players for their superb support.

We do appreciate your support for the work of the Trust and anything you can do to encourage other fans to join us would be appreciated. Membership is from just £12 a year – less than four cups of coffee in the local Costa Coffee or Starbucks.

And when you’re next at the Cardiff City Stadium why not pop into our office near Gate 5 for a chat?

Wishing you and your families a happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Keith Morgan

Chair

Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust

Trust chair Keith Morgan

Following conversations with senior sources at Cardiff City FC, Trust chair Keith Morgan provides members with an update on the club’s legal claim against FC Nantes relating to the tragic death of Emiliano Sala.

Cardiff City lodged a significant legal claim in the Nantes courts immediately following a decision of the Swiss Federal Tribunal in Spring, 2023, that ruled a compensation claim was a separate matter from the earlier FIFA decision that Emiliano Sala was the club’s player.

The basis of the compensation claim is that, under French law, the actions of an agent appointed by Nantes are deemed to be those of FC Nantes, itself, and that those actions directly led to the tragic accident resulting in the death of our player.

The amount of the claim is both the full value of the transfer fee paid plus a compensation sum for the loss of Premier League status that in probability would not have occurred should Emiliano Sala have played for us and caused us to avoid relegation  (this has been assessed by professional independent third parties). The claim, in total, is a huge one which forensic accountants are valuing.

A procedural hearing was held in France in June at which Nantes were required to file their defence by the end of November- they did so on the last day.

A large element of their defence appears to be that they don’t recognise Willie McKay as their agent and instead dealt with a different company as agent (a “shell” company which lists its directors as Willie McKay’s son and wife and which at the time had no trading records filed at Companies House).

Reliable sources at Cardiff City have told me that the club has copious amounts of documents disproving Nantes defence.

The June hearing was reported in the French media at the time but appears to have been based on reports prepared by PR companies employed by Nantes.

The next stage in the legal action is that Cardiff City has until the end of January 2024, to respond to Nantes’ defence after which there will be a further procedural hearing to set court dates etc.

I understand that the eventual court hearing later in 2024 (if not settled out of court beforehand) will be before three judges who will be experienced business people rather than solicitors.

I hope that this brief update provides Trust members and the wider fan base with an accurate picture of the current situation in this matter.

Keith Morgan

Chair

On behalf of the Trust, Chris Martin, Stewards Logistics Officer at Cardiff City, today kindly handed over the food donations to Cardiff Foodbank.

The donations made in aid of the Cardiff Foodbank were collected today in time to help struggling families and individuals before Christmas.

Thanks to some late donations the number of items that went to the foodbank from the collection at the Millwall game was 1,006 or 409.1kg of food.

In addition, £418.01 was collected in cash along with the £100 cheque from the Trust.

Thanks again to all Bluebirds fans, club officials and the players for their generosity and support for the collection. Cardiff Foodbank has described the amount raised in cash and donations as a fantastic achievement. Couldn’t agree more.

Cardiff City players Romaine Sawyers and Andy Rinomhota brought donations from players. They are pictured with Trust members

Thank you! Thank you!

A fantastic total of 943 items of food was donated during our collection for Cardiff Foodbank before yesterday’s Millwall game.

This was a brilliant response by Bluebirds fans given we are in the middle of an awful cost-of-living crisis. This will ensure those struggling to make ends meet will receive help in time for Christmas.

We were also very appreciative of the cash donations given on the day – some fans had clearly been to the cashpoint before visiting us as the notes were new.

Phillip Nifield, Trust board member for Communications, said: “We’re eternally grateful for the brilliant support of fans, Cardiff City, its staff and players. The foodbank was thrilled by the donations both in terms of food and cash.”

The Trust also donated £100 to the foodbank.

Trust chair Keith Morgan (second right) presents a £100 cheque to Cardiff Foodbank

Mark Tugwell of Cardiff Foodbank (pictured left) with former Trust vice-chair David Craig

Our collection in aid of Cardiff Foodbank takes place a week today.

A food donation point will be set up from 12.30pm close to the Trust office, near Gate 5, before Cardiff City’s clash with Millwall on Saturday, December 9^th, 2023.

Here is a list of food items most urgently needed by the foodbank: Easy Cook Pasta and Rice, Tinned Potatoes, Tinned Fruit, Tinned Tomatoes, Sponge Puddings, Long-life UHT Milk, Fruit Juice Long-life (both one litre), Shampoo, Shower Gel, Savoury Snacks and Chocolates/Sweets. No perishable food, please.

Food collected will be delivered to the Cardiff Foodbank well in time for Christmas.

Cash donations to the foodbank can be made on the day. Fans can also donate online by clicking on the Red Donate button in the top right-hand corner of your screen on the foodbank website and please reference Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust or CCST if you make an online donation on https://cardiff.foodbank.org.uk/.