Latest stutters leave Cardiff reeling

Cardiff City, managed by Dave Jones, have been going through a negative patch lately.

But, Jones still has high hopes that City will recover to regain the top spot in the Championship. The last time the Bluebirds were members of the top flight was in 1961-62 and the fans are confident that Jones can lead their team back to the Premiership after a gap of 45 years.

Goalkeeper Neil Alexander (ex-Livingston) remarked that nobody at Ninian Park was getting anxious about Cardiff's recent slump in form. They have taken only 10 points from 30 on offer. Probably, the Welsh side will strengthen their squad during the January transfer window.

For a span of 18 consecutive seasons, Cardiff were trapped in the lower two divisions of the Football League. It was the arrival of Lennie Lawrence, who replaced Alan Cork in 2002, and the investment of Lebanese businessman Sam Hammam that started the revival.

Lawrence guided Cardiff to the play-offs in 2003, when glory was attained after a 1-0 win over QPR in extra-time in the final. In May 2005, Jones came in for Lawrence.

In 2006, Jones made away with the big names like Cameron Jerome (to Birmingham for £3m), Robert Earnshaw (to West Brom for £3.5m) and Danny Gabbidon and James Collins (to West Ham for a combined fee of £3.5m). Jones wanted to assemble a new squad mostly through paltry fees and free players.

Yet, at the start of this season fans began to believe that this could indeed be the year that will see Cardiff becoming the first non-English side in the Premier League.

The club are in process of planning and constructing a new stadium opposite Ninian Park. The council has given approval for Cardiff City's new 30,000 all-seater.

Work on the £38 million plot in Leckwith is due to start next March and will finish at the end of 2008.

Club chairman Peter Ridsdale (ex-Leeds United) remarked that the positive moves approved by the council were a milestone for Cardiff City FC.

Ninian Park will be re-developed for housing, he said.

The manager

Dave Jones was born in Liverpool on June 17, 1956. As a player, he signed professional forms with Everton in 1974.

Jones became a regular in the Toffees backline as a strong commanding defender. In his hey days, he won England youth and U-21 honours.

After seven seasons at Goodison Park, he left to join Coventry City for £275,000. He remained at Highfield Road for three years but was then forced to hang up his boots because of a serious injury.

Yet, he resurrected his career with stints in Hong Kong, for Seiko FC, and finally at Preston.

Jones's coaching career took off at Southport in the non-League scene, moving on to Mossley and Morecambe before he was called by Stockport in the Football League in July 1990.

After coaching the youth team, and then the reserves, in March 1995 Jones replaced Uruguayan manager Danny Bergara.

At Edgeley Park, Jones started to hit the headlines when in 1997 he steered Stockport to automatic promotion to the First Division after they finished second. Stockport reached the last four of the League Cup in that same campaign.

Jones could not resist the temptation of managing in the Premiership and in June 1997 he took over at Southampton. The Saints were perennial strugglers but Jones guided them to 12th in 1997-98.

In the season that followed, Southampton finished just above the relegated trio. The off-field allegations that led to nothing in the courts hurt Jones. He was replaced by Glenn Hoddle.

Jones was glad when Wolves gave him the Molineux job in January 2001 for the sacked Colin Lee. He craved a return to the soccer scene.

In less than two years, Jones led Wolves to the Premiership via the play-offs, defeating Sheffield United in the final.

Yet, Wolves' stay lasted only one year. Back to the second grade of English football, Jones failed to hit the right chords and was sacked in 2004.