The Bluebirds are finally ready to complete their managerial search and begin serious preparations for League One.
Cardiff City’s search for a new manager is finally coming to an end, with the club close to hiring Brian Barry-Murphy.
The Bluebirds’ hunt for a new permanent manager has taken a sometimes-torturous seven weeks, but it appears to have come to an end, with Barry-Murphy the man who will be tasked with managing the Bluebirds’ promotion push after slipping into League One.
While the final parts of paperwork are still to be completed, with a few hold-ups on Leicester City’s end, the 46-year-old is expected to put pen to paper and be revealed within the next day or so.
Cardiff’s search for a new manager was extremely thorough, involving the formation of a subcommittee to narrow down the applicants and offer their recommendations to the board.
Des Buckingham, Aaron Ramsey, Ian Evatt, and Barry-Murphy all had supporters to varying degrees, but the Leicester City assistant coach was regarded as the best and most well-rounded candidate for the position.
According to sources, Barry-Murphy is bright, enthusiastic, and extremely ambitious. And his vision for the club is regarded to have been very impressive.
Cardiff are also said to be quite enthused by Barry-Murphy’s plans for their young players, considering his prior success in that department at Manchester City.
The board is adamant that this crop of academy graduates is the most brilliant they have seen in years, and how the next manager intends to bring these players through as a critical component of the club’s success was a key element of the interview process.
However, Barry-Murphy’s attention to detail and the passionate way in which he expressed his perspective on the game and how he intended to execute it at Cardiff struck out. Clearly, the club is aware of the dangers associated with this hiring, given his only senior management experience of two years at Rochdale, but the benefits exceeded the concerns.
Indeed, other contenders were regarded as safe pairs of hands, for lack of a better term, managers capable of steering Cardiff into a play-off berth at the very least the following season. Cardiff, on the other hand, has chosen a bolder approach, which they believe will benefit the club in the long run. According to one insider, the manner Barry-Murphy wants Cardiff to play may help establish the club’s style and football philosophy over the next decade.
Relegation frequently provides an opportunity for a team to restart, and for many, this appointment feels like a sea shift. After years of a lack of identity on the field, many will see this as a marker in the sand.
A manager dedicated to contemporary football who has spent the last half-decade honing his craft within Premier League institutions. Others would argue that more needs to be done within the club, including structural changes at the top, in order for this to be a long-term success – and they are not incorrect. But take one step at a time.
Another element was the level of management Barry-Murphy has worked with and learned from. Pep Guardiola, current Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, and Braga manager Carlos Vicens were all present at the same time as Barry-Murphy, and current Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox was also a City colleague.
Clearly, this appointment has taken longer to complete than anyone anticipated or expected, which has frustrated many both inside and outside the club, but a variety of factors have contributed to this.
Delays struck them at all points. Buckingham, Barry-Murphy, and Ramsey all had influential supporters, so reaching an agreement took some time.
Ramsey was a popular option among supporters, considering his position within the club and his stellar reputation. Clearly, employing him would have been a risk given his inexperience, as Cardiff has been burnt in recent years.
However, having not signed a playing contract at Cardiff and seeking to extend his time on the pitch in preparation for Wales’ World Cup appearance next year, sources say he may join with Mexican club Pumas.
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