Jason Blake is not a name often associated with the current struggles of Cardiff City, but the news of the Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan’s decision to sack manager Erol Bulut has former striker Nathan Blake weighing in on the club’s long-standing issues. Blake has been vocal in the past about his dissatisfaction with the club’s hierarchy, and it’s clear that he feels the Jason Blake departure from the club a few years ago was a symptom of a larger problem.
Blake’s recent comments on BBC Radio Wales highlighted the perceived failings of the club’s leadership, saying, “It’s not just a problem that’s come around now, I’ve been saying it for six or seven years, maybe longer. I don’t look at the hierarchy at Cardiff and think really they know what they’re doing.” This statement is particularly interesting given the turbulent nature of the club’s recent history. The sacking of Bulut after just six winless games into the season marks a worrying trend for the Bluebirds, who have struggled to maintain consistency in recent years.
Cardiff City’s Management Merry-Go-Round
The search for a new manager is underway at Cardiff City, but the reality is that the club has been down this road many times before. Blake’s assertion that “it’s a bit of a merry-go-round for Cardiff when managers do come in” is hard to argue with. The club has had 11 permanent managers in the 14 years that Vincent Tan has been in charge, and it’s clear that the lack of stability is having a major impact on the team’s success.
One of the main concerns for Blake and many other Cardiff City fans is the perceived lack of a clear philosophy at the club. This is an issue that Blake has been highlighting for many years, saying in a 2020 interview that the club needed to adopt a clear strategy that the players, fans, and staff could rally behind. This was something that Blake had been pushing for under Neil Harris, and it’s clear that the problem has persisted.
Blake’s concerns about the club’s management structure are also mirrored by his thoughts on the role of the chairman, Mehmet Dalman, and chief executive, Ken Choo. Blake believes that the power is currently concentrated in the hands of a select few, with decisions being made without adequate consideration for the long-term well-being of the club.
Blake’s Warning to Potential Suitors
As the search for a new manager continues, Blake has a stark warning for anyone who might be considering taking the job. “Whoever takes the job is a brave person,” he said. “They’re going to have to take on an enormous amount of work to get that club right.” This is a sobering assessment, but it’s clear that Blake believes that the club is in need of fundamental change.
The lack of self-reflection from the club’s leadership is something that Blake is particularly critical of. He believes that the owners and chairman need to take a long, hard look at themselves and consider whether their approach is truly working. However, Blake also sounded a note of resignation, saying “there’s no sort of self-revision of anything or looking at anything they do, it’ll just be the same old, same old.”
This sense of resignation is understandable given the long history of Cardiff City’s struggles. The club has been through numerous changes in management, but the underlying issues persist. Blake’s warning to potential suitors highlights the complexity of the task ahead for anyone who might be considering taking the reins at the Bluebirds.
A Look Back at Cardiff’s Recent History
To understand the current situation at Cardiff City, it’s worth taking a look at the club’s recent history. In 2020, Neil Harris was sacked after the club went on a prolonged slump, prompting Blake to say that he was “almost sick of his own voice” in urging the club to adopt a clear philosophy. The club’s struggles continued under Mick McCarthy in 2021, with Blake again speaking out about the lack of direction from the top.
The appointment of Erol Bulut in 2023 was seen as a fresh start for the club, but it’s clear that the underlying issues persisted. Bulut was initially given a one-year deal but signed a new two-year contract in June after protracted negotiations. However, the results on the pitch didn’t match the optimism of the summer, and Bulut’s tenure ended in sacking just six games into the new season.
Blake’s Assessment of the Current Crop of Players
Blake’s assessment of the current crop of players at Cardiff City is also illuminating. He believes that the lack of confidence from the players is a major problem, saying “once you start the season poorly and you can’t pick up a result and you’re conceding so many goals, that was, I think, a major problem for them, confidence gets knocked.” This lack of confidence is something that will need to be addressed by the new manager when they take the reins.
In conclusion, the recent sacking of Erol Bulut has highlighted the ongoing issues with Cardiff City’s leadership. Nathan Blake’s comments on the club’s hierarchy and lack of a clear philosophy are particularly insightful, and his warning to potential suitors highlights the complexity of the task ahead. As the search for a new manager continues, it remains to be seen whether the club will finally take a step in the right direction.