Trust chair Tim Hartley, vice-chair Tracey Marsh and board member Keith Morgan tonight attended a meeting with other fans’ representatives.
At that meeting Alan Whiteley, chief executive of Cardiff City, explained proposals by Malaysian owner Vincent Tan to invest around £100m in the club.
The investment will improve the stadium, will build new training facilities and offer Malky Mackay money to strengthen the team. The plans would see the stadium expanded to 35,000 seats by 2014.
However, Mr Whiteley said that the investment comes as part of a package with conditions:
- From next season Cardiff City will play in red shirts, black shorts and red socks with a blue away kit.
- The Bluebirds badge will be changed to that of a dragon.
- But the name will remain as Cardiff City Football Club.
Vincent Tan and the Malaysian investors want the colour and badge changed to represent the fusion of the two cultures of Wales and Malaysia. This, Mr Whiteley, said would lead to new commercial and retail opportunities in Asia.
Tim Hartley said: “While we would obviously welcome the investment, I am personally disappointed with some of these changes.
“In our role as a Trust we will now canvass opinion among our members.
“Personally, I think the conditions proposed would mean that we would lose something of our soul as City fans.
For generations people have been brought up as Bluebirds and to be told next season that we are Dragons wearing red shirts is perhaps a step too far.
“We are grateful to the Malaysians for their continued investment in Cardiff City. But, personally, I would urge them to think again and respect some of the central traditions of what Cardiff City has been and is.”
Vice chair Tracey Marsh said: “Although I’ve not been a City fan as long as many, there is a principle at stake and I feel that as fans if we agree to the conditions that we will be selling out.
“One of our favourite fans songs talks about ‘not taking my Cardiff away’. It seems that is exactly what is proposed as one City fan has said. I also worry what agreeing to this will mean in the future.”
Trust members can email their comments to [email protected]
