Expectations of success are unreasonable at most clubs, but Sam Hammam’s cash has injected a sense of urgency into the club he took over in the summer of 2000. Lawrence, who does not have a contract, is Hammam’s fourth manager. Loitering about in the lower leagues, as Cardiff have done for years, will not be enough for Hammam, whose dream replicates that of taking unfancied Wimbledon into the top division. Talks are under way to redevelop an athletics stadium in Leckwith into a 30,000-capacity venue that could be upgraded to 60,000 if they are promoted all the way to the top flight.

“Cardiff is never going to see another Sam again,” Lawrence said. “The club is at a huge junction in its history. If it goes forward from here, off the field in terms of getting a new stadium and on the field by getting into the first division at least, then the sky is the limit. If it doesn’t, who knows? “There are massive expectations. At the moment, we are fulfilling it. But if we don’t go up, then we won’t be.

“The job is very simple at Cardiff. They have got to be promoted this year or next year at the absolute outside. No ifs, whys or wherefores. That is cast in stone.”

That Hammam and Cork were unable to turn back the clock to Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang was mainly because of a number of frustrating draws that left the club in eleventh place and 16 points off the leaders when Cork resigned in February after defeats away to Brentford and Wigan Athletic.

Lawrence, who left Grimsby Town after 16 months in charge in December, discussed reversing their roles, but Cork felt that it was better to leave. “Sometimes you can take it as far as you can. And that’s it,” Lawrence said. “It was always going to be a tough job for someone relatively inexperienced in management.”

Hammam had virtually written off promotion this season, but Lawrence’s initial estimate that he would need six or seven wins to ensure a place in the play-offs has been surpassed. They are unbeaten in his 11 games in charge, winning eight. He changed to a 4-3-3 system, but he says the difference is as simple as the players playing to their ability.

“We haven’t played too many teams in the top six, but earlier in the season we dropped points against teams in the bottom half,” Lawrence said. “I said to the players some weeks ago, if they do not score more goals or concede less, we will not do it. Initially we scored a lot more, but now we are combining that with keeping clean sheets.”

After spending more than £3 million on players, including Peter Thorne from Stoke City for £1.7 million, Graham Kavanagh from Stoke City for £1 million and Spencer Prior from Manchester City for £700,000, it has been eight goals from Andy Campbell, the latest purchase, from Middlesbrough, that has been the trigger for the recent run.

Looking forward, Lawrence said: “Whether we sign players depends which division we will be in. If we are in the first division, we will strengthen, but if we are in the second, it will depend on finances.”