Cardiff goes blue again, thanks to Vincent Tan’s mum
Published: 10 January 2015
Malaysian tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan has agreed to change Cardiff's strip back to blue. – Reuters pic, January 10, 2015.Tan Sri Vincent Tan has agreed to change the Cardiff City Football Club colours back to blue with its traditional bluebird badge, following advice from his mother, The Daily Telegraph has reported.
The Malaysian tycoon, after almost three years of resisting fans calls to revert to blue, finally backed down and said he decided on the change after reflecting on the events at the club over the last year during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
He said spending time with his family had a profound effect on him.
"Cardiff is important to me and I wish to see it united and happy," Tan said in his statement.
"With the guidance and influence of my mother, I asked my chairman, Mehmet Dalman and chief executive officer, Ken Choo, for their advice and to consult with a good cross-section of the fan base."
The meeting took place last night between the club and representatives of supporters, which Tan described as a very productive and frank exchange of views.
"These views were also added to by a large number of email that were sent to the club over the last 24 hours from our wider supporter base.
"To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, ‘Let us never compromise out of fear. But let us never fear to compromise’," Tan said.
The Football League has agreed to Cardiff’s request to play in blue against Fulham in today’s home Championship match and for the rest of the season, with the away strip reverting to red.
The Daily Telegraph reported that it expected Low's name to be sang at today’s game, which promises to be full of positive emotion.
However, Tan still showed he had not lost his business touch when he sidestepped the issue of turning a huge debt owed to him by Cardiff into equity.
The supporters' representatives had asked the board members at the meeting about Tan’s pledge to turn into equity the huge debt owed to him by the club, almost £180 million (almost RM970 million).
“The debt to equity resolution is not straightforward," Tan said in his statement.
Meanwhile, Cardiff supporter Sian Branson send an email to The Malaysian insider to thank Tan for his decision.
"Thank you to Vincent Tan. So excited to be watching our team Cardiff City FC in our traditional colours tomorrow, your goodwill has made many people happy."
"We appreciate very much what you have decided to do. Onwards and upwards at Cardiff City Football Club – we look forward to seeing you soon and enjoying the celebrations with us."
Tan has endured a rocky relationship with Cardiff fans since he took over in 2010, as he changed the club's colours to red and also altered the club's crest.
Seeing more than 100 years of tradition being turned upside down by Tan made the fans furious, although promotion to the Premier League in 2012/13 proved to be some consolation.
However, Cardiff's stint in the top-flight lasted just one season as Tan fell out with manager Malky Mackay and gave him the marching orders.
Tan later appointed former Molde manager Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer to replace Mackay but he was unable to keep Cardiff in the top flight.
Solskjaer was sacked last year after a string of disappointing results and replaced by Russell Slade.
Tan had also given an interview to Sky Sports News in which he said he had fulfilled his end of the bargain by investing more than £100 million in the club.
The controversial tycoon said fans should get behind the club instead of protesting over the club's strip. – January 10, 2015.
