The Bluebirds are aiming for promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking and face a crucial summer ahead
Cardiff City face a huge summer as the club begins preparations for life in League One following the disastrous relegation from the Championship.
The Bluebirds now find themselves in unfamiliar territory and under pressure to deliver a swift return to the second tier. With fan expectations high and the financial implications of dropping a division looming large, this off-season will be crucial in shaping the club’s response and trajectory.
One of the major tasks ahead lies in rebuilding the squad. Several key players could depart upon the expiration of their contracts next month, while some will want a return to the Championship. New signings will be needed, of course, to strengthen both depth and quality within the squad – but more on that later.
The appointment of the right managerial and backroom staff will be vital in setting the tone for the club’s identity and playing style moving forward. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community
Away from the pitch, Cardiff must also re-engage a fan base that has grown frustrated with recent seasons of underachievement. A clear plan, continued transparency from the board, and early progress in the transfer market could help restore optimism among supporters.
Here, we take a look at what Cardiff’s perfect summer looks like…
Manager announced quickly
All being well, Cardiff City will announce their new manager in the coming days.
The board hoped to get the decision done and dusted by the end of May, which looms large. However, sources at the club indicate that a decision should be communicated to supporters this week.
The Bluebirds have changed tack in terms of the manner in which they have selected their new manager. They created a sub-committee to whittle down the shortlist from dozens of candidates to around 10 and then six, before the board then engaged in interviews with the streamlined shortlist.
Among the names in the hat are experienced managers, rookies, foreign managers, however the board have put forward their preferred trio to owner Vincent Tan and the decision now rests in his hands.
It is hoped that Tan will make the call quickly, because much needs changing at Cardiff this summer. There are out-of-contract players who want to know who the new manager is and what they want to see and the plans they want to implement. There are also big transfer calls which need making with the manager’s say-so.
Cardiff fans will hope, fingers crossed, that the new man is in by the end of the week and we start to see real movement elsewhere in the club shortly after.
Structural changes made
Having a director of football at Cardiff would provide much-needed strategic direction at a club which has suffered from frequent managerial turnover and inconsistent recruitment.
A director of football offers a long-term vision that extends beyond the tenure of any one head coach, overseeing the club’s footballing philosophy, player development, and transfer strategy. This allows for a more unified approach across the senior team and academy, helping to maintain stability even when managerial changes occur—something Cardiff have struggled with in recent years.
A key advantage of this role is that it separates the day-to-day coaching responsibilities from broader operational decisions. This enables the head coach to focus solely on team performance, tactics, and match preparation, while the director of football handles recruitment, contract negotiations, and scouting networks. Given Cardiff have a penchant for hiring rookie or inexperienced managers, it seems a no-brainer.
At a time when Cardiff must build a competitive squad on a tighter League One budget, having someone dedicated to identifying undervalued players, developing internal talent, and executing a coherent recruitment plan would be invaluable. Ideally, this sort of appointment would be in place before a new manager is appointed, but we can’t have it all.
Additionally, a director of football can help bridge the gap between ownership and the football staff. With Vincent Tan often perceived as a distant or unpredictable figure in footballing terms, a strong director of football would act as a buffer—translating boardroom objectives into practical football decisions. There is hope, too, because Tan employs a similar figure at his other club, KV Kortrijk.
This role would also facilitate smoother communication and greater transparency, while cultivating a stronger footballing identity. For a club like Cardiff, aiming to rebuild both on and off the pitch, the presence of a well-qualified director of football could be the cornerstone of a more sustainable operation.
Mark Allen, a former director of football at Swansea, Rangers and within Manchester City’s academy, helped head-up the recruitment drive for the new manager and if Tan views that one-off task force as a success, might he be a more permanent fixture? Fans will likely hope so.
Addressing weaknesses
Cardiff have to be proactive in this transfer window and address some of the key weaknesses in their squad ahead of what will be a gruelling League One campaign.
It isn’t going to be pretty, either, because, newsflash, there are weaknesses pretty much all over the pitch. And that’s before people start leaving in search of Championship football. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Goalkeeper looks one area they might need to address. There are suggestions that Ethan Horvath could be one of the players out the door this summer, with the American wanting to secure a higher level of football in order to force his way into the national team. Whether his performances have warranted him being higher than League One is another conversation all together.
It leaves Jak Alnwick and the uncapped Matt Turner. Will Cardiff look for a more experienced No.2 or stick with the academy graduate? None of the ‘keepers really set the world alight last year, that’s for sure.
The defence was a huge concern last year. While individually there were some talented players, where was the leadership and where was the cohesion? There was no central figure barking orders or organising the troops and that will be paramount in League One, renowned for being more physically robust than the Championship.
Jamilu Collins will leave, while it would be no surprise to see Perry Ng secure a second-tier move, so wing-backs would potentially need addressing, too. Although Ronan Kpakio is a fine and promising talent, while Luey Giles, on the other flank, was with him on the Wales senior team training camp in Spain under the watchful eye of Craig Bellamy.
There have been just criticisms of Cardiff’s midfield, too. Are they all too samey? There are a lot of players in there with very little point of difference, so far as the layman can decipher. Another area in the spine of the team which needs a big, physical presence to complement the passing skills of so many of the other midfielders already within the ranks.
Providing Cardiff can hold on to both Callum Robinson and Yousef Salech — easier said than done, of course — then the striker situation looks relatively stable. Although there’s a long way to go this summer and both of those players are likely waiting to see who is appointed as the new manager. There’s also Roko Simic and Isaak Davies in waiting as back-up options.
But on the wing is where Cardiff need far more pace and even more goal contributions. Teams now heavily rely on goals scored from the wing and City do not have that regular source from out wide. Wingers Anwar El Ghazi and Chris Willock proved disappointments last season, so, too, did Yakou Meite, for the second term running.
Ollie Tanner, Davies and Cian Ashford are the current wing options, but Cardiff need at least one player with pace to burn and/or a proven goalscoring record to ease the burden in those positions.
Carving a youth pathway
One real positive at Cardiff is the youth coming through, although it’s always wise to urge caution on the ability of these young players, particularly given the toughness of the league they are about to enter.
What they do have is real potential. Five of them — Giles, Kpakio, Ashford, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa and Dylan Lawlor — have all been out on Wales camp with Craig Bellamy and they are some of the brightest youngsters the club have.
Chuck in the likes of Joel Colwill, Isaak Davies, Rubin Colwill and even Eli King and there are some talented players there. Troy Perrett is another who has drawn glances from Premier League sides, too, and he will likely feature far more this term if the club can hold on to him.
These players all need to be playing next season and it’s up to the recruitment staff, new manager and, potentially, a new football-orientated employee to decide in which of the three following categories the promising youngsters fall into: Ready to play, needs a loan, cash in.
Some of these players could save the club millions. Kpakio has reportedly lit up the training camp in Spain with Bellamy watching on, while Lawlor has interest from the Premier League and on the continent.
Many fans want the likes of Ashford, Rubin Colwill and Davies to grab League One by the scruff of the neck and really show that they can rip it up on a week-to-week basis, which will do their confidence a world of good.
There are others coming through, too, the likes of Dakarai Mafico and Mannie Barton spring to mind, and it is the one rare positive those inside the club, and fans, too, are equally excited about.
A ‘reset season’ wasn’t on anyone’s wish list, but if one positive can come from it, it’s to help mould these bright young things into players who can make a real impact at senior level.