OSG Prem DEVELOPING: Yep, Mackay Got Sacked (UPDATED W/Tan Statement)

More when we know more, obviously...

But Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan pulled the trigger and gave the Premier League a Christmas exchange...

Manager Malky Mackay was sacked and relieved of his duties at the club after the 3-0 loss to Southampton yesterday...

Here's Mackay's post-match interview from then...
((HT: BBC Sport))


Let's face it, the HQ thinks it gave Tan the out he needed...

According to Sky Sports, the two were set to meet on Saturday, but Tan pulled the trigger anyway:

"The Board of Directors at Cardiff City Football Club have today relieved Malky Mackay of his duties. A new first team manager will be appointed and announced in due course."

The two betting favorites to replace Mackay are Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and some Turkish coach by the name of Yilmaz Vural... Vural last managed at Elazigspor in the Turkish League, but quit his post in May.

Tan himself is a 100-1 play on the boards and most Bluebirds fans right now think Tan should just go screw...
And they're probably right...

UPDATE: Tan himself has released a statement about the sacking...

"There has been a good deal of publicity generated by and about Mr Malky Mackay over the last few months.

"Indeed far too much dirty linen has been exposed to the public gaze. But, I stress, not by me. Indeed, I have deliberately not responded to this, hoping that the Club can be judged on its football rather than personalised arguments about who said what to whom.

"I have, however, regretfully concluded that it is no longer fair to the Club, its players, its fans, or the public more generally, for this uncomfortable state of affairs to continue. Cardiff City Football Club means far too much to us all for it to be distracted by this."

The HQ would like to know what manager would like to be employed by an owner such as Tan considering his meddling...

And the HQ would also like to know who released the e-mail in the first place about the issues Tan had with Mackay that started the whole cascade- surely didn't seem like a Mackay act considering how meticulous he is about his work. Mackay's focus is always on the pitch and not in the media- until, apparently, provoked...

OSG Prem: Vincent Tan Buys Into Bosnia, Still May Fire Mackay

((HT: Pro Soccer Talk/Farley))

Okay, the HQ admits to a little blending here...

Farley has come out with a piece where it has been announced that Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan... the same guy who went after Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay for telling people publicly that he wanted to improve his team by bringing in talent in the January transfer window... had apparently decided as far back as September that he was going to invest close to US$2-million into Bosnian soccer champion franchise FK Sarajevo...

From Farley- and it gets better:

According to outlets in Bosnia, Tan will not change the club colors, something he controversially did with his investment in Wales. While Cardiff City has historically worn blue, Tan changed the team’s main color to red, though the team continues to be colloquially referred to as the Bluebirds.

“We have signed an agreement which defines the investment and management rights in accordance to the club’s statute and legislation that is in force in Bosnia,” FK Sarajevo’s general director Dino Selimovic told Reuters, as reported by The Guardian.

Here's what FK Sarajevo and Zeljeznicar- the top two teams in the country's league this year- look like when they play each other


Now, the Cardiff City update...

Chairman Mehmet Dalman has admitted to Sky Sports that there are options that don't involve Mackay if the manager and owner can't get together to hash out their issues. Which is difficult since, according to Mackay, the two haven't met in three months. Mackay has also said that he has tried twice to have "peace talks," but has been shown the hand:

"Every effort that can be made is being made to allow the club to move forward. We will do everything humanly possible to maintain the status quo but if not we will move fast to repair the situation.

"If that means bringing in a new manager, we will, but for the time being, we believe that's premature and we will work together to fix the predicament we're in."

Mackay will not resign and here's the ultimatum...
((HT: Sky Sports))


So, Vincent Tan will spend money in Bosnia, but not in the Premier. He'll change team colors in the Premier, but not in Bosnia.

The HQ understands... completely...

Tan's ownership fits Bosnia perfectly and has no business being in the Premier League...