blueball.gif (262 bytes) Wed 2nd Feb 2000 - Jackson rumours get stronger
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The name Peter Jackson is getting more and more air time. Despite Steve Borley's denial that the board have made contact with the former Huddersfield manager it appears that the new consortium have been trying to woo Jackson and bring him to Ninian Park.

Speculation broke out over last weekend while Frank was still in charge. Jack Brown the Cardiff based bookmaker has taken a lot of bets on Jackson and he is now odds on to become new manager. The BBC and the Wales On Sunday newspaper claimed Jackson was the man. As you can see from today Western Mail article (below) the rumours are getting stronger. I have head myself from a source close to the Huddersfield Town hierarchy that Jacksons name has been linked.

Billy Ayre is the boss for the moment though. He is not worried about the talk. He has set his mind on proving himself. I know very little about Jackson and I guess time will tell.

From TotalWales.
PETER JACKSON is expected to become Cardiff City’s new manager once the £2.5m club take-over deal is completed, probably next week.

Within hours of Frank Burrows leaving the club his assistant Billy Ayre was yesterday put in charge for Saturday’s match at Scunthorpe.

The 47-year-old Ayre wants the job on a permanent basis. He will implement his own ideas and may dispense with the wing-back system favoured by Burrows.

Chairman Steve Borley denied that 38-year-old Jackson was lined up to succeed Burrows - “I haven’t even spoken to him.”

But a source close to the group of wealthy investors ready to buy a 51 per cent controlling interest said the former Huddersfield manager will be offered the job.

Welsh bookmakers Jack Brown took bets of more than £1,000 on Jackson over the weekend before Burrows’s departure.

They slashed his odds from 4-l to 2-5 yesterday after receiving a single £1,000 bet on him.

“We are sure we’ve got our man,” said Jack Brown spokesman Karl Williams.

“Some people obviously know what’s going on at Cardiff City On Monday afternoon one man even tried to wager £500 that Frank Burrows would leave the club within 48 hours.

“Others have wanted large bets on Peter Jackson taking over. They must have inside information.

“To me, the chairman’s claim that he has no knowledge of Jackson becoming the next manager is a clear indication that the would-be investors are already calling the shots.”

But Borley insisted, “The Board has no-one in mind. We are not going to rush into things. ”The manager’s job at Cardiff City is one of the most difficult to fill.

“The club’s history is like a millstone. People are demanding in Cardiff and unfortunately we have a reputation for not keeping managers much longer than two years.

“We need a strong, successful character, someone with the pride and passion this club deserves to take it forward. The job could be there for Billy to take.”

Ayre, unaware until late Monday night that Burrows had left “by mutual consent”, said,”I would like the opportunity to take over from Frank on a permanent basis.”

He found himself unexpectedly in charge the day he returned to work “feeling fine “ after surgery to remove a benign tumour.

“I feel for Frank. He worked very hard for Cardiff City and did what he believed to be right.

“He took the club up last season but things haven’t worked out this time.”

Ayre, who gained Second Division managerial experience with Blackpool, leading them to promotion and a play-off at Wembley will do it his way.

“Frank and I have different ideas on players and football which we used to bounce off each other. But Frank is his own man and made all the decisions.”

Borley reached a financial settlement with Burrows over his three-and-a-half-year contract.

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Copyright Michael Morris 1999.