September Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

The following article is courtesy of todays Total Wales.

FRANK BURROWS is ready to ask his directors for money to buy the players needed to consolidate Cardiff City’s return to the Second Division.

City’s manager is presently showing a profit of more than £300,000 in the transfer market.

He has outlayed a modest £175,000 to acquire Russell Perrett, Matthew Brazier, Willie Boland, Winston Faerber, Danny Hill, Dai Thomas, John Cornforth and Tony Vaughan, on loan.

But sales, notably Mark Delaney’s move to Aston Villa, have brought in more than £500,000.

City’s coffers are about to be swelled by more than that amount from a private share issue.

The board has pledged to give Burrows as much financial help as possible and the resolve of chairman Steve Borley and his fellow directors will be put to the test if Burrows manages to find the proven marksman so urgently needed - a quality striker would not come cheaply.

Burrows, keen to finish his career with City, is close to signing a four-year contract.

But he left the club last time believing the directors didn’t share his ambition and quit Swansea City for the same reason. He would not hang around if nothing was done to prevent City languishing in the bottom half of the table.

There would be no shortage of offers with Notts County currently desperate to secure his services.

“The quality of football at this level is completely different to the Third Division,” said Burrows after Tuesday’s 2-l home defeat by Stoke City.

“Stoke are a good side, one of the best in the division who will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. They took their goal chances, we didn’t, which is the story of our season so far.

“We are capable of living with sides like Stoke but have got to stop committing suicide.

“I can’t keep making excuses. I’ve got to do something about it. I’ve been more than fair with my players but I’ve got to look at my squad .

“Perhaps now is the time to bring in new players to give the club a lift.

“We need to score more goals. We have missed so many chances this season and at the moment we are just not capable of keeping a clean sheet.

“May be it’s time for me to go to my directors to see if I can find some money to improve the squad.

“We lack pace in the side without Jason Bowen (injured). We need pace up front and at the back.

“We have to work harder on the training field and come up with a solution. My players and I are responsible for putting the club in this position. It’s up to us to get them out of it. I’m responsible for everything on the football side so the buck stops with me.”

A meagre return of 12 points from a possible 39 have left City only five points above bottom club Blackpool.