January
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The news only broke late last night so only the Western Mail have been able to get a story in this mornings press.

There was a brief statement put out by the Press Association as well. Both are below. Local and National radi news have been reporting the departure this morning.

Report from the P.A.
Second Division strugglers Cardiff have parted company with boss Frank Burrows by mutual consent.

The 56-year-old Scotsman, in his second spell at the club, vacated the Ninian Park hotseat after a meeting with the club's directors following the Bluebirds' 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Luton.

Burrows led City to promotion last season but they have struggled with life in Division Two and are currently sixth-bottom, having won only five of their 28 league matches.

Chairman Steve Borley said: "I think Frank would be the first to agree that things haven't gone to plan this season."

Report from TotalWales.
CARDIFF CITY manager Frank Burrows was on his way out of Ninian Park for the second time last night - 24 hours after his 56th birthday.

Former Huddersfield manager Peter Jackson is odds-on favourite to succeed the man described as a miracle-worker by former City and Wales striker Ian Walsh.

I understand a parting of the ways was agreed by mutual consent when Burrows was summoned to meet chairman Steve Borley yesterday.

They reached a settlement over the three-year contract Scotsman Burrows was invited to sign recently.

It is believed to involve around £60,000 in keeping with a six-month get-out clause.

Burrows could not be contacted last night. Borley, asked if he had left, said, “Not at the moment.” But he admitted that at yesterday’s meeting Burrows had again offered to step aside if the board felt it was in the club’s best interests.

The Borley-Burrows talks followed an emergency board meeting after Sunday’s 3-l home defeat by Luton left City on the brink of the drop zone, level on points with fourth-from-bottom Oxford United.

Borley denied that a consortium fronted by Penarth-born millionaire Clive Sullivan had insisted on Burrows leaving as a condition of a £2.5m take-over.

“My main concern at the moment is tying up this new investment deal as soon as possible, hopefully by the end of the week,” he said. “But the directors and I are very concerned about our position in the league.

“We are very grateful to Frank for what he has done for the club. He came back here to gain promotion at the first attempt last season, which was a wonderful achievement. We reached the final of the FAW Premier Cup and enjoyed other good cup runs.

“And Frank sold players for £550,000 with the prospect of more money to come (from Mark Delaney’s move to Aston Villa).

“But I think Frank would be the first to agree that things haven’t gone to plan this season. At the start of the season nobody would have predicted we would be in this predicament.

“Like other clubs who went up to the Second Division over the past five years, we have struggled to adjust to the higher standards despite all Frank’s efforts to strengthen the side.

“It’s a situation we must overcome. It is absolutely vital that we preserve our Division Two status.”

Borley dismissed as pure speculation reports that Jackson, who saved Huddersfield from First Division relegation but was then replaced by Steve Bruce, was lined up to succeed Burrows. “I haven’t spoken to the man,” he said.

But Welsh bookmakers Jack Brown have made Jackson 4-6 favourite after taking weekend bets of almost £1,000.

Burrows did a remarkable job to repeat his feat of leading City to promotion in his first spell 11 years ago. He has always been popular with the fans and respected by his players.

Walsh, now a radio commentator, last night criticised the board.

Said Walsh, “Only five or six months ago he was the bees knees. Blaming him for the team’s position is totally unfair.

“You have to achieve stability at a club, build firm foundations, bring the right people around you and get your youth scheme up and running.

“Frank has done all that. He’s worked miracles keeping teams afloat on limited budgets. Surely he should be given the chance to strengthen the side with the money to be made available by the new investors.

“When the new man comes in he will ask for five years to get things running his way. What happens if he struggles for the first 12 games? They’ll be calling for his head then.”