Concerned Cardiff City fan groups call for an urgent meeting with the club board and also aim criticism at the lack of communication.
The Cardiff City Disabled Supporters Association, Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust and the Cardiff City Supporters’ Club, doubled down on their original letter, stating the club must lay out their short and long-term plans for fans.
They have recently intensified their call for an urgent meeting with the club’s board, specifically targeting the owner, Vincent Tan, for his perceived silence on club matters.
This comes in the wake of ongoing dissatisfaction the club’s management and performance, particularly highlighted by the team’s struggle in the Championship and how long it’s taken to appoint a permanent manager since the sacking of Erol Bulut in September.
Fans are frustrated with what they perceive as a lack of communication and strategic direction from the board, especially from Tan, who has been notably absent or silent in addressing these concerns.
The fan advisory board, in a letter to the club’s hierarchy, has criticised the absence of a full-time director capable of making key decisions, warning that the club risks “losing a generation of fans through neglectful management.”
The timing of Omer Riza’s appointment as interim manager until the end of the season has further fueled fan discontent, particularly as the team finds itself in another relegation battle.
This has led to calls for a more transparent and communicative approach from the club’s leadership, with fans demanding a clear plan and better engagement to address the club’s direction and management issues.
Cardiff City fan groups demand urgent meeting with board and call out ‘silent’ Vincent Tan https://t.co/awXLknpy1p pic.twitter.com/K4pUFBAs89
— Cardiff City Online (@CardiffCityLive) December 30, 2024
In a letter sent to chairman Mehmet Dalman, CEO Ken Choo and non-executive director Steve Borley, the FAB wrote: “The Cardiff City Fan Advisory Board acting on behalf of all official Cardiff City supporters’ groups united, hereby call for an urgent meeting with the Cardiff City board of directors, to discuss the current situation at the football club.
“As previously raised in an open letter on (1.12.2024) the cycle of failure at the club continues apace with no clear plan or strategy evidenced in relation to improving and securing both the immediate and long-term status of the football club. The issues surrounding communication have not been addressed.
“Supporter unrest, frustration and apathy continues to grow and we face losing a generation of fans through neglectful management of our club. In another challenging season, facing the very real threat of relegation, there is an absence of a full-time director and a director who can make key decisions.
“The situation has been exacerbated by the continued silence and absence of our owner Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun. The club needs leadership, direction and clarity. Supporters deserve communication and reassurances.
“We seek construction discussion to address:
– The short-term plan to secure the club’s position in the Championship for next season and beyond.
– The credible long-term plan which outlines the exact specifics of how the club will break the cycle of failure and the preventative measures introduced by the chairman, CEO and board members.
– Communication to Cardiff City supporters from Sri Vincent Tan outlining his plans for the club.”
In their response to the initial letter, Cardiff City said: “Scheduled meetings happened in February, May and August this year, with the fourth and final meeting of 2024 scheduled for next Monday (December 9).
“Cardiff City FC’s Supporters Liaison Officer (SLO) serves as Secretary of the FAB with meetings published via the Club website.
“In addition, a fan parliament, attended by Mehmet Dalman, Ken Choo, Steve Borley and Omer Riza and 10 Heads of Departments took place on November 1.
“Ahead of several other clubs and without current obligation, Cardiff City Football Club took the decision to form its own independent fan advisory board earlier this year to give supporters a stronger voice that was heard mandatorily. It is therefore concerning that an incendiary open letter was published, contrary to the procedures and process that the FAB agreed upon.”
Cardiff fans send open letter to owner, chairman and CEO, expressing deep concern
Here’s what Twitter users said as concerned Cardiff City fan groups call for urgent meeting with the club board…
@NigelBlues: Well done. It’s more important than ever to have dialogue and make our hierarchy accountable. Let’s hope we do manage to stay up but, if we do, nobody has the stomach for another season like the last 2 or 3. Something has to change. Keep pushing. It’s important and matters.
@snoopysnoopy135: You’ll get another snotty reply for making this letter public as well.
@Yma_o_hyd7767: I’d say it’s about time, but this should have been done back in October/November.
@yachtcritic: Well done – keep hammering
@RH87__: We will get the same old answer back.
@Steven_Will: Well done on representing the fans in spite of the hostility from the ownership
@welshvikings: Good that questions are asked but our board are all yes men to Vinny. They either don’t know, can’t say or wont say. Seems like a total dictatorship.
@BluebirdJonny: Please stick to your guns and get things changed don’t stand for being fobbed off this time Tan, Dalman and Choo actually have to attend these meetings and answers need to be given the fans deserve that as a minimum pulling a no show and fobbing everyone off shows lack of respect
@SD8716: Wasting your time sadly. You won’t get a response, or constructive answer. More than likely, they’ll question why the fans are asking such questions.
@MyOnlyCardiff: Well done all. Wondering if this was approved by Steve prior to publishing?
@andy_gulley: They will ignore it and totally twist it around and blame the fans as they usually do, they are in charge and they are never wrong #\o/\o/
@nns1796: The silence is deafening from the board. The fans are leaving in thier 1000’s and still they do nothing. If there’s no clear plan then please be honest. If there’s no desire to push our club forward then please sell the club to someone who is willing to do so. It’s appalling
@ACommonBluebird: Bitchy response from the club explaining why the fans group letter is outrageous and we’re all imbeciles who don’t know how lucky we are coming 🔜
@VSM_Echelon: Putting pressure on the board is just gonna force them into bad decisions. Like the last open letter forced them to erratically give Riza a contract. Which was a bad decision so be careful what you wish for should be the lesson here.
@JonTucker2_: Borely will just tell everyone I’ve been here for 27 years… no one asked steve
