Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is unhappy at how close friend Malky Mackay is being treated under controversial blue birds chairman Vincent Tan, after this weeks revelations regarding funding in the transfer window.
The Cardiff City boss has seen his future come under intense scrutiny this season because of the way in which owner Vincent Tan foresees the club moving forward.
However chairman Vincent Tan chose to publicly criticise Mackay this week after the manager spoke about his plans for the January transfer window.
Rodgers, who is a close friend of Mackay’s, having worked with him during their spell together at Watford has slammed Tan’s ethical and financial values regarding his ownership of Cardiff City as a professional football club, and the Northern Irishman is concerned at the level of control that Tan has at the club.
Tan has had several controversial moments in South Wales, from changing the clubs colours and identity, to sacking chief scout and Mackay’s close friend Ian Moody, Moody was responsable for many of Cardiff’s signing this year, including Garay Medel.
And Rodgers came out in support of friend Mackay, before slating owner Tan, ahead of Saturday’s clash between the two sides….
‘I find it incredible the talk about Malky,’ Rodgers said. ‘I find it astonishing what he has been through. Malky walked into a club that had given him 10 players, someone who totally transformed them.
‘He took them to the Carling Cup final – took them up from the Championship. I find it astonishing.’
Chief executive Simon Lim released a statement on behalf of Tan this week which read that the owner was ‘extremely upset to read quotes from the manager concerning the possibility of new recruits, before he had been informed whether funds would be made available.’
It continued ‘He believes that doing so unfairly raises supporter expectations, placing unnecessary pressure on the club. His view is that due to the funds already committed, including the originally authorised summer transfer budget of £35m that rose to £50m in total, including add-ons, the manager has been fully supported.
‘The overspending of £15m has upset Tan Sri greatly, resulting in the removal on Iain Moody as head of recruitment. As such, he has stated that not a single penny will be made available in January.’
Mackay was given the manager’s job at Watford in 2009 after Rodgers left, with the Liverpool boss struggling to fathom how his former coach could be forced to leave South Wales.
‘My only conclusion is that you have a business guy, who knows nothing about football,’ Rodgers added.
‘When I see from the outside what he has been through, to see him being questioned, is just remarkable.
Cardiff have had a stable start to life back in the big time, picking up wins against Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion and a win in the South Wales derby against Swansea City, aswell as a superb point at home to Manchester United.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
