The latest news from the Cardiff City Stadium
Here’s your round-up of all the latest Cardiff City news for Thursday, July 31.
Cardiff close to captaincy call
Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy says he will be announcing his new captain to the squad on Friday.
The departures of Joe Ralls and Aaron Ramsey mean there’s a vacancy for the armband ahead of the new season, and it appears the City boss has made a decision on who will now lead the team, which will be communicated to the players ahead of Saturday’s League One opener with Peterborough United. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
That group will include striker Yousef Salech, who also faced the press ahead this weekend’s clash at Cardiff City Stadium, a move many might interpret as a response to speculation around his future in the capital.
Those suggestions, however, have been denied by the Cardiff boss.
“There’s no hidden agendas,” he said when asked about the decision to put the striker up in front of the media. You can view the press conference in full here.
“Ideally it would have been the captain but we’re announcing the captain to the squad tomorrow. We have captain and vice captain to announce to the squad tomorrow.
“So we had to delay that appearance for today but that was the only reason.”
Cardiff looking for quality over quantity
Meanwhile Barry-Murphy says Cardiff must focus on quality rather than quantity in their efforts to add to the squad this summer.
City are yet to make a single signing so far in this window, although they appear to be edging closer to a loan move for FC Copenhagen goalkeeper Nathan Trott.
However, the Bluebirds boss says he has no complaints over the way Cardiff have handled their business so far, and has warned them against signing players merely for the sake of numbers.
“There’s been a lot of different questions about different parts of recruitment,” he said. “I think it’s always at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
“My focus has sincerely been on assessing the squad, getting to know them intimately and trying to see where we can take this squad, but with a clear idea that we want to add to the squad with real quality and not quantity.
“I think since the end of the season there will be like 14 players that have left the club, and as of yet we’re waiting for our first incoming.
“We want a really select squad of quality, but I would also add in, based on the numbers we have in the squad, you’ve started to see some of the exceptional young players throughout the season.
“And that’s a real core belief of mine. If we had a squad of huge numbers, you just don’t see those players, you don’t see that opportunity for growth and appearance. There’s been real growth within the squad already.
“I think we have a vision of what we want the team to look like. This is the vision that I projected to the board when I spoke to them first.
“The players that we bring into the club have to, one, have to have the capacity to be able to do that, and two, the mentality to do it. So they can do it and will do it. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.
“So that’s why it’s quite a specific process to bring in the players in each part of our team that can deliver on that and take us forward. So, yeah, there is certain requirements that are very important to me to bring that vision to life.
“This is a big club with big ambitions and the level of player that we bring into the building has to be reflective of that to make the squad think we mean business and that’s the most important thing we’re moving forward.”
Former Bluebird Moore diagnosed with cancer
Former Cardiff City striker Ronnie Moore has been diagnosed with an incurable form of blood cancer.
The 72-year-old is widely regarded as a legend of the EFL, having managed a host of clubs, including Tranmere Rovers, Oldham and Rotherham United and Hartlepool United.
He is currently chief scout at Hartlepool, a role he’s held since April last year.
As a player, he made 56 league appearances for Cardiff between 1979 and 1980, scoring six goals.
He also played for Tranmere, Rotherham, Charlton Athletic, and Rochdale, hanging up his boots in 1989.
Rotherham announced the devastating news on social media on Wednesday, posting on X: “We’re right with you, Ronnie.
“The thoughts and unwavering support of everyone at Rotherham United is with legendary former player and manager@ronniemoore53 who has been diagnosed with Myeloma – a form of blood cancer.”