MONTHLY NEWSFILE
JANUARY 1998

Saturday 31st January 1998

Rochdale 0 - 0 Cardiff City - Report.

Goalless at Rochdale. City have now gone without an away win since November. Hopefully that will change at Reading on Tuesday.

Bobby Gould will host a couple of traing sessions for the Cardiff players before Tuesday's massive FA Cup replay at Reading. Kenny Hibbitt has injured himself in an accident at home and cannot fully involve himself in a full traing session. Hibbitt will be with the City team at Rochdale today but will rely on Jimmy Goodfellow to shout the instructions. City are hoping to announce a new manager at the end of next week but it could be longer as the closing date for applications is the 9th February. Applicants so far have included several teenagers and a 34 yr old Cardiff taxi driver.

Thursday 29th January 1998

Cardiff fans will be admitted to the Vetch this season but it will be all ticket and you will have to travel from Ninian Park on specially arranged coaches. Tickets will only be issued to fans who follow the guidelines.

Todays Daily Mirror have posted the following article.

"Ian Rush is one of the front runners to take over as manager of Cardiff. Ninian Park chefs decided to go for the former Welsh Intnl after sacking Russell Osman. They know the veteran marksman's arrival would spark massive public interest and that Newcastle are unlikely to stand in his way after signing Andreas Andersson. Rush feels he still has something to offer as a player but has made no secret of his ambition to move into management."

Tickets for the Cup replay at Reading next Tuesday go on sale at 1000 hrs today. They can be obtained from the ticket office at Ninian Park. The game is all ticket for City fans. They are also on sale tomorrow depending on availability.

Tuesday 27th January 1998

Chester City 0 - 0 Cardiff City - Report.

City will consider an away point a bonus after losing the last four away games. Both teams were guilty of squandering chances.

City have lost Carl Dale to Illness and Kevin Nugent and Jason Fowler to injury before tonights match against Chester. Andy Saville and Scott Partridge come in for Dale and Nugent while Wayne O'Sullivan replaces Jason Fowler.

City look like fielding the same starting XI that played so well against Reading at the weekend. Kevin Nugent will keep his place and start up front with Carl Dale. City will again play the 4-4-2 formation that I personally feel they are better suited to.

The FAW match against Merthyr has now been arranged for Tuesday 10th February. A victory would win the group and give us a home quarter final against LoW team Conwy.

Monday 26th January 1998

Tickets for the FA Cup 4th round replay at Elm Park, Reading go on sale to season ticket holders this Wednesday 28th January. The ticket office at Ninian Park will be open from 10am - 4pm. The remainder will go on general sale on Thursday and Friday between the same hours. City have been given 2,832 tickets and all are standing. There is no admission without a ticket.

The following article was posted on Soccernet today.

Lou Macari, out of football management since quitting Stoke City in the summer, is set to make a comeback with Third Division Cardiff City.
Club chairman Samesh Kumar wants the 48-year-old Scot to replace Russell Osman, who was sacked on the eve of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Reading in the FA Cup.
It would renew a partnership Kumar and Macari forged at Birmingham seven years ago. Kumar said last night: 'He has a proven record at this level and has the ability to get the best out of players.'
Macari is now keen to return to football as he awaits the verdict in the court case in which he is claiming £400,000 from Celtic for alleged wrongful dismissal.
Macari will join a Cardiff outfit still eager for Cup glory, thanks to a goal from Kevin Nugent, back in the side after a long injury lay-off.
There may be a matter of £14,935,000 separating their last price value but the careers of Nugent and £15m man Alan Shearer have run darkly parallel courses this season. 'We both suffered serious ankle ligament injuries early in the season I got mine in our second game,' said the 28-year-old Londoner, who joined the Welsh club from Bristol City in the summer for £65,000.
'Working day after day, six or seven days a week, mainly on your own to get your fitness back is a lonely business. But I used Shearer as my yardstick and my motivation.
'I would read in the papers how his recovery was progressing and it would give me the urge to keep battling on as well.
'In the end I was a week or so ahead of him when I came back as a sub but, to be fair, I think his injury was slightly worse than mine.'
Without their chief striker, Cardiff have managed only 26 goals in 27 League games. But Nugent capped a purposeful display against First Division Reading by heading his first for the club in the 47th minute.
Carl Asaba equalised nine minutes later and the teams replay at Elm Park a week tomorrow to decide who is away to Ipswich or Sheffield United in the fifth round.

Sunday 25th January 1998

Cardiff have been drawn away to either Sheffield Utd or Ipswich in the 5th round of the FA Cup. Obviously it will be academic unless City can overcome Reading at Elm Park a week Tuesday in the 4th round replay. Utd and Ipswich drew 1 -1 at Portman Rd yesterday and you would fancy Sheffield Utd to overcome Ipswich at Bramhall Lane in next weeks replay. Dean Saunders kept the Blades in the competition with a goal late on. Non league Stevenage Borough are still in the competition after holding Premiership Newcastle 1 - 1 in this afternoons match. Alan Shearer scored after 3 mins in his first start to a game this season. Stevenage equalised just before half time and held on for a famous result. The full draw is:-

Aston Villa v Coventry
West Ham v Sheffield Wed/Blackburn
Leeds v Birmingham
Stevenage/Newcastle v Tranmere
Wimbledon v Charlton/Wolves
Man Utd v Tottenham/Barnsley
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Ipswich/Sheff Utd v Cardiff/Reading.

Ties scheduled for weekend of February 14

Todays Wales on Sunday carries a report that casts doubt over Kenny Hibbitt's future at Ninian Park. City's Directot of Football and now caretaker manager is upset by the majority view that Russell Osman was a "scapegoat" and it was Hibbitt who should have been held reponsible. Hibbitt has been hurt by these comments and will decide during the next 48 hrs. I believe Hibbitt should have taken some flack for whats gone on (see my comments on Friday).

The guessing game continues as to who the new manager could be. It looks like whoever it is will be the manager and responsible for the team, not like the Hibbitt/Osman fiasco. Hibbitt if he stays will go upstairs and not have anything to do with the first team squad.

The local press yesterday seemed to put their support behnd Kevin Ratcliffe. Today the Lou Macari option is top news. Not only with the local newspapers but also on National teletext. Macari was with Kumar at Birmingham City and there are said to be very good friends. Macari has legal problems and has said he would not be back in football until they are sorted. Ratcliffe was City's captain when they won the 3rd division title in '93 but Chester would fight hard to keep him. These two look to be the front runners. The post will be advertised and the club cannot decide whether it wants to rush the appointment or not. The Chairman of Cardiff Samesh Kumar has publicly shown his appreciation of Macari and Ratcliffe in the papers today. An outsider who is being mention is Scarboro boss Mick Wadsworth. There is still talk of Colin Addison and of Crystal Palace coach Peter Nicholas.

The top 5 candidates are at the moment:-

1. Lou Macari
2. Kevin Ratcliffe
3. Colin Addison
4. Mick Wadsworth
5. Peter Nicholas

This is before the post has been advertised. I would like Macari. I feel Scotsmen make good managers and he has a good record at this level and he has managed West Ham and Celtic in his time. My gut feeling though is that Kumar will try very hard to get Ratcliffe. If I was a betting man Ratcliffe would be my tip. Ironically Cardiff travel to Chester on Tuesday for a league match. Ample time for a word or two on the matter maybe?

The draw takes place today for the 5th round of the cup. The replay against Reading now means the FAW match at home to Merthyr will have to be rearranged again.

Saturday 24th January 1998

Cardiff City 1 - 1 Reading - Report.

Cardiff pushed 1st division Reading all the way at Ninian Park today and deserved to win the tie. It will not be easy going to Elm Park on Tuesday 3rd Feb for the replay.

After the headline making day yesterday Cardiff hope to hit the heights today with a shock in the FA Cup. City are the only third division team left in the competition and can provide one of the biggest shocks of the round (the only one bigger would be if Stevenage could beat Newcastle on Sunday). Therefore the attention on Saturday will be on managerless Cardiff City.

I usually use the website as an information service, hopefully providing the quickest worldwide Cardiff City news. I tend to keep my own personal opinions to the mailing list. Here are my thoughts on the Osman sacking.

I along with over 95% of the visitors to this website and the mailing list have been calling for a head for sometime. My ideal wish would have been the dismissal of both Hibbitt and Osman. I do not like to see anybody lose their job, but, it was obvious by the results and performaces that it was not working and it would have been fairer to all parties to stop it before it ruined their careers as well as the club. Such is football. My view has been that if Osman was manager then he should carry the can. I believe the manager should be on a rollercoster, enjoying the highs and stomaching the lows, as we are at a low the focus of anger towards the manager meant Osman. It was revealed today, albeit It has been stated in the past but nobody much cared about it, that it was Hibbitt that selected the team. Osman was manager in name but thats about all. He appears to have been more of a coach. I suppose thats why its always Hibbitt who was the frontman. With these facts now taken in I think Hibbitt has escaped due to the length of his contract and been a very fortunate man. Whether he will stay I'm not sure. This could look extremely embarrasing for him. Osman was his fall guy. Russell only had 5 months to run on his contract, the board have agreed to honour his wages until that deal is over, Hibbitt on the other had has over two years on his contract. The club could not afford to pay him off. To sack him would cost them a few bob. He will now go back upstairs and do the job he was supposed to do, Director of Football. The board say Osman was never part of a long term plan. I now feel sorry for him. He has been on a hiding to nothing. I vented my frustration towards Osman rather than Hibbitt. I attacked the title manager. I now think I was wrong to do that. I thought Osman was poor at managing and Hibbitt had to bail him out, now I don't think so. Osman was the coach, Hibbitt the manager, in my eyes anyway.

Now I have to accept Hibbitt will stay. I hope in my heart of hearts that we appoint a strong manager. We must show our ambition by getting the right man. Please Mr Kumar dont just paper over the cracks again. The new man should have full team responsibility, be able to answer for himself and not be a puupet, being used by Hibbitt or the board.

I wish Russell Osman well. I don't think this experience has helped him a great deal. I hope he learns from it   and next time gets his job description right because after all I've heard and read I think he's had a raw deal from the club over the whole term of his involvement. If he was not what we wanted then better to sort it out than let it end like this.

Now we look ahead. We all know we should be able to take this division by storm. We have players that have been brought in by Hibbitt and Osman who have been excellent signings. I don't doubt the players ability its the was they have been handled by the management, I have not always agreed with tactics or positioning. I left that to those who were supposed to know best and its all gone pear shaped. From where we are the only way must be up.

I will sit on the Bob Bank later today and cheer like hell. A place in the next round my only wish for the day (and of course 6 numbers in the evening).

Dont get me wrong. Sacking Osman was right but I feel the other fella has been very lucky. I'm sure he is seriously considering his position now that everybody realises it was his team that failed to perform. We needed a change to be able to break our current situation and get back to winning ways.

Friday 23rd January 1998

Kenny Hibbitt keeps his Director of Football job at City and will be the caretaker manager until a new man is appointed. The bookies have installed Lou Macari as 2/1 favourite for the job with former club captain and Chester manager Kevin Ratcliffe at 6/1. Jan Molby and Eddie May are at 33/1. Colin Addisson is another strong contender.

RUSSELL OSMAN HAS BEEN SACKED.

Russell Osman has today been sacked by Cardiff City. It will obviously have a sudden impact but it is not unexpected. City have continually failed to impress this season after being rated one of the favorites for promotion. The only bright spot on the season so far is the FA Cup run. The news comes 24 hours before our massive 4th round clash with Reading.

OSMAN SACKED BY CARDIFF - report by the Sporting Life.

Russell Osman has been sacked as team manager of Third Division Cardiff City just hours before the Welsh club's FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Reading.
Osman, who has come under fire from disgruntled fans in recent weeks because of the Bluebirds' disappointing form in the League, was given the news at the end of a near four-hour board meeting.
The 38-year-old former England defender took over the reins in November 1996 and, in partnership with director of football Kenny Hibbitt, helped guide Cardiff to the promotion play-offs last season.
But despite several changes of playing personnel during the summer, the club have failed to build on last term's position and are currently 17th.
Cardiff have won only six of their 27 Third Division matches so far and despite an astonishing 14 draws - nine of them from 14 home games - it looks virtually impossible for them to challenge for a promotion place this time
around.
"It came as a bit of a surprise, but it's an occupational hazard in our game I suppose," said Osman, who had four months left on his contract.  "I appreciate that things have been difficult during
the time I've been there, but I still believe we were getting ourselves on the right track.
"I had a total of eight matches in charge of the team, winning four and losing four. Apart from that spell, I've not been responsible for selecting the side."
Chairman Samesh Kumar brought Osman to Ninian Park in a back-stage reshuffle that initially saw Hibbitt "move upstairs" and relinquish team management.
That situation was ostensibly changed to appease the fans' growing anger during the middle of last season and Hibbitt was then announced as the man responsible for future team selection.
"The decision (to sack Osman) is part of a long-term strategy, although no-one disputes that our recent losses in the League have accelerated ourthinking," said Kumar.
"Our immediate requirement is to win games and we're simply not doing that. With everything that has gone on in the last year, Russell is not the right man to work with Kenny in the future."
Hibbitt will be in charge of the Cardiff team for the Cup tie, but Kumar hopes to appoint a new manager "as soon as possible".
Hibbitt is expected to recall Craig Middleton after a two-match suspension for the game against Reading.
"We have to win the midfield battle," he explained. "Reading have some outstanding players in there - strong, powerful runners, who feed their wide men, Jason Bowen and James Lambert."
Hibbitt also has to decide on his strike partnership, although he is likely to rely on Kevin Nugent and Carl Dale, who played together for only the second time this season at Colchester on Tuesday.
Team (from): Hallworth, Middleton, Eckhardt,
Beech, Young, Harris, O'Sullivan, Fowler,
Penney, Nugent, Dale, Carss.

Thursday 22nd January 1998

Todays Telegraph On Line has the following article.

Osman urges Cardiff to seize chance of upset
Marksman Morley could provide key for Reading, says Karen Buchanan

CARDIFF CITY manager Russell Osman was understandably despondent yesterday. On Saturday his side entertain Reading in the FA Cup fourth round, the first time they have reached this stage in four years.

Yet it is just not happening for them. Despite some enterprising football and gutsy displays, Cardiff lost 3-1 to Third Division leaders Notts County last Saturday and on Tuesday night travelled to Colchester to get beaten 2-1.

So grim was the mood that director of football Kenny Hibbitt said: "After two defeats on the trot the FA Cup seems a million miles away. We've got our backs to the wall a bit. We certainly need a lift and the fans can do that for us."

Osman is naturally relieved to be back on home soil, if only for the fact there is no 10-hour coach journey to endure.

On paper, First Division Reading should be able to sweep aside a dispirited Cardiff, plying their trade two divisions further down the League. Yet it is not a formality. Neither side are having particularly convincing seasons.

Reading struggled to dispatch Cheltenham Town in the third round, sealing a 2-1 victory at the second attempt on Tuesday night with an 72nd-minute winner. They travel to Ninian Park having won only two of their 12 away matches.

Cardiff put out Oldham in the third round, but have won only six games in 27 this season and are the Third Division's draw bores, with 14 to their credit.

Both clubs' problems are due largely to poor finishing: They have failed to average even a goal a game this season.

Osman points to the players' lack of self-belief for this state of affairs but oozes confidence himself as he says with some feeling: "We are creating the chances and sooner or later those are going to start going in. And once they do, we could beat someone by a large amount."

Despite his side having had the worst possible preparation for the match which Osman feels is "the biggest of our season", he is sure they can pull off an upset. Providing experienced and robust players such as captain David Penney can "get their act together on the day", and help the younger, more fluid, players such as promising playmaker Jason Fowler - Osman describes him as "very skilful, but so gangly he sometimes reminds you of Bambi" - Osman feels they stand a chance.

Don't forget, they have been here before. And beyond. Cardiff remain the only non-English side to have won the FA Cup, back in 1927. And who did they beat 3-0 in the semi-final that year? Reading's only FA Cup semi-final appearance apart, their fans will prefer to remind Cardiff of the last time they met in the competition. Reading won 2-1 at Ninian Park back in 1934-35, so honours are even.

Who could separate the two teams? Possibly Trevor Morley. Cardiff's top scorer is Carl Dale, who has seven this season. Reading have Carl Asaba and Morley on eight and Osman sees the latter as a key player.

"He's not going to go charging around like a youngster any more, but he's still a huge threat anywhere in the 18-yard box," said Osman of the 36-year-old striker who may be the deciding factor.

The other man who may well have a decisive role is Cardiff's chaplain: One Joe Jordan. Not the Joe Jordan, but still worth a goal start, surely?

Tuesday 20th January 1998

Colchester Utd 2 - 1 Cardiff City. Report.

Cardiff slipped to their fourth away defeat in a row and must now accept that the team is not good enough to mount a promotion challenge this season. I write without the match facts but I can imagine what ramblings the management will come up with.

We must now look to the FA Cup for our fix of success. City will play Reading after they defeted Cheltenham 2 - 1 at Elm Park tonight.

Todays sees the replay between first division Reading and non league Cheltenham for the right to play Cardiff at Ninian on Saturday in the 4th rd of the FA Cup.

Craig Middleton misses tonights game through suspension. David Penney is one yellow card away from suspension. In the FAW Inviatation Cup  Middleton, Jimmy Rollo and Steve White will all miss the final group match against Merthyr due to picking up two yellow cards in the tournament. The game with Merthyr will go ahead on Tueday 2nd February provinding City do not need a replay in the FA Cup.

Sunday 18th Janaury 1997

Wales have been drawn in one of the hardest groups for the 2000 Euro Championships.

Above matches start in September 1998.

The nine group winners all qualify as does the best runner up over the nine groups. There are four more places available, they will go to the winners of the play offs between the remaining eight runners up.

Kenny Hibbitt has said that he would allow Lee Jarman to leave Ninian Park for a month on loan with another club. Jarman has only had seven matches this season and is looking for some more first team action.

Saturday 17th January 1998

Notts County 3 - 1 Cardiff City - Report.

Craig Middleton is suspended for todays game at Notts County, forcing City into their first starting line up change for a few weeks. It is hoped that Jeff Eckhardt will fit into the back line with Scott Young moving up to midfield.

Wednesday 14th January 1998

Cardiff City 3 - 2 Newtown - Report.

Kevin Nugent netted a late penalty, after he had been brought down in the box, to give Cardiff their second victory in the FAW Cup. The win takes City to the top of their group and victory over Merthyr in the last group match would give Cardiff a home quarter final against Conwy who have failed to score so far in the competition. City remain the only unbeated team in the tournament. Steve White scored twice early on to give City a 2 - 0 half time lead but goals from Ruscoe and Benbow levelled the scores until Nugent settled it late on.

Tuesday 13th January 1998

Cheltenham have drawn at home with Reading 1 - 1 in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Cardiff will now have to wait until next Tuesday the 20th to find out our next round opponents. Cheltenham lead with a 22nd min penalty but Trevor Morley equalised for Reading on 71 mins.

Monday 12th January 1998

Cardiff will definately play their 4th round FA Cup tie against Cheltenham or Reading on Saturday 24th of January. Reading had wanted, if necessary, to play any possible replay against Cheltenham on the 24th. This will not happen now, if the game does need a replay it will be on Tuesday 20th, leaving the 4th round tie to go ahead as planned. As a result the home match with Mansfield has been rearranged for Tuesday 17th February. The only match which is not planned is the home FAW tie against Merthyr.

Saturday 10th January 1998

Cardiff City 1 - 0 Orient - Report.

A penalty from David Penney after 19 mins was enough to give City a league double over Orient. Carl Dale was brought down in the box and Penney made no mistake from the spot. It was the only real highlight of a dull first half but City came out all guns blazing in the second and for 20 mins could have tripled the lead but for for poor finishing. As last week it was a case of hanging on towards the end with John Hallworth the busier keeper. This is just the sort of thing we were missing out on earlier in the season. Orient could have snatched a draw but we managed to see it out. Even when the ref played about 98 mins.

Friday 9th January 1998

Cardiff are set to field the same starting line up that beat Oldham last weekend. City will be looking to transfer FA Cup form into league ponis as they bid to push up the table.

Thursday 8th January 1998

Cardiff City secretary Ceri Whitehead is having fun trying to arrange and rearrange fixtures at the moment. City's FAW match with Newtown is conformed as being played at Ninian next Wednesday 14th. City's away game at Chester has been scheduled for Tuesday 27th January. There is no news yet on the FAW match at home to Merthyr.

The FA Cup has its own complications. If Reading and Cheltenham draw in their 3rd round game on the 13th then the replay will probably be played on FA Cup Saturday, the 24th. This leaves Cardiff free to play the planned home match with Mansfield. The 4th round tie with either Cheltenham or Reading will then probably be played along with the FA Cup 4th round replays. If of course there is a result at Cheltenham next Tuesday then City will play the winners at Ninian Park on the 24th and the Mansfield game will be rearranged.

The recent storms in S.Wales have caused roof damage to Ninian Park. There was also a power failure which caused the back up generator to start and then burn out because nobody knew it was on. These problems are being resolved and it is hopeful that as long as the weather is relatively fair we will have action against Orient on Saturday.

Tuesday 6th January 1998

This website has been awarded the Nationwide Weekly Top Fan Site award. Thank you to all who have given me the encouragement to keep it going.

Tonights home FAW Invitation game with Newtown has been postponed due to the bad weather. It is provisionally rebooked for next Wednesday 14th January.

There is no news yet about new dates for the games against Chester City and Mansfield which have been postponed due to our current cup run.

Sunday 4th January 1998

Cardiff have been drawn at home to either non league Cheltenham or first division Reading in the 4th round of the FA Cup. While it is not the glamour tie we would have liked it must certainly be looked upon as a chance to progress to the fifth round. Full draw below:-

AFC Bournemouth or Huddersfield v Wimbledon or Wrexham
Man City v West Ham
Charlton v Darlington or Wolverhampton
Stevenage v Newcastle
Tottenham or Fulham v Barnsley
QPR or Middlesbrough v Arsenal or Port Vale
Coventry v Derby
Leeds v Grimsby
Watford or Sheff Wed v Blackburn
Crystal Palace v Leicester
Birmingham v Stockport
Man Utd v Peterborough or Walsall
Bristol Rovers or Ipswich v Sheff Utd or Bury
Cardiff v Cheltenham or Reading
Portsmouth or Aston Villa v West Brom or Stoke
Hereford or Tranmere v Sunderland

Matches to be played Weekend of 24th,25th and 26th January

Saturday 3rd January 1998

Cardiff City 1 - 0 Oldham - Report.

FA Cup 3rd round action today.

Friday 2nd January 1998

How much longer do we have to endure poor performances, excuse after excuse, the same old I can't understand it, we should have won that one, if we had put our chances away, etc, etc,.

We know we have a squad good enough to take this league apart. Why aren't we doing it? It has to come back to the management. Thay have to take responsibility. At the moment they do not. Hibbitt is the mouthpiece. When there is flack Hibbitt pops up saying how disappointed everbody is and how we must all try harder and so on. I'm trying my best, I pay my £8 every week, I have spent a fortune travelling away with my kids, I cheer the team on. All I see in return is tired ideas and lack of committment from the magangement and players. In my opinion there are only a few players in our current squad (Dale, Stoker, Hallworth) who give 100% committment. The others need to be managed better and encouraged to perform. Osman is supposed to be the manager. He should be answering the critisism but he is kept away from it. We need a solid manager who can make his own descisions and lead the team. Somebody who will face upto the responsibility. This situation of everybody blaming everybody else is ruining our team. At the end of the day we should vent our dismay to Mr Kumar. He is the leader. He surely must be able to see what we are seeing. Why does he allow it to go on week after week after week.

Again tomorrow I will be on the Bob Bank willing us to win. I fear that if we do it will deflect attention away from our poor league position and performances and keep the status quo. Maybe defeat tomorrow will finally give Kumar the balls to stop the rot and get us going up the table with a new man at the helm.

Thursday 1st January 1998

Happy new year.