Cardiff City begin a bold League One rebuild under newly appointed head coach Brian Barry‑Murphy, who signed a three‑year deal in June 2025. He emphasises youth development and an attacking style inspired by his time at Manchester City’s elite squad. With veteran exits and financial downsizing, the club is betting on academy talent and smart transfers to launch an immediate promotion push.
00:00Cardiff City certainly did not have a good campaign last season in the Championship.
00:06Of course, they were relegated to League One.
00:08But are there any players worth keeping at the Bluebirds in England's third tier?
00:14Of course, they do have some players who, despite the poor campaign, did have some standout moments last year.
00:20You look at the likes of Callum Robinson, of course, in that game against Swansea City.
00:24He also won Player of the Year at the Bluebirds, just gone.
00:28And you look at the likes of Anwar El Ghazi, Perry NG.
00:32Certainly, these players who have been at the club for a bit of time and have established themselves as some of the fan favourites,
00:38despite Cardiff overall not being in the best of shapes as a club and as an outfit on the pitch either.
00:45The only concern you have, perhaps, over those players is that most of them are into their 30s now.
00:49Now, that's not to say that they're too old and they can't do a job, but one deal they'll probably need replacing.
00:53But I think for now, at least, is it a case where certainly they're the type of player, because of their experience, their age, their maturity,
01:01and indeed their ability, that they should be kept around the club at the Cardiff City Stadium heading into their campaign in League One to come.
01:10So let's go now to our Wales sport correspondent, Charles Hague-Jones.
01:13Charles, are they the type of players who I've just mentioned, your Callum Robinsons, your Anwar El Ghazis, and your Perry NG's,
01:18who, across the pitch, can just provide that bit of stability going from one division to another that they might need with that experience,
01:27that composure, and indeed, as I mentioned before, that ability as well that they could also need to make sure that the campaign next year is a successful one in South Wales?
01:36Yeah, obviously, Cardiff enter a massive sort of rebuilding period, a period of change and wanting to make sure they're sustainable once again as a club.
01:50Obviously, huge news coming in this summer about their possible takeover with Gareth Bale and the consortium there.
01:56New manager in Brian Barry-Murthy, who seems really zoned in on youth development,
02:01on getting players back into their international sides as well, the lack of Cardiff City players in that Wales team as of late.
02:09Even Craig Bellamy said it's something that has never really been seen before, the lack of Cardiff City players in the national side.
02:17So that's something that they're going to want to improve as a club.
02:20There are still some gems.
02:23Kian Ashford, for one, he's an academy rising forward.
02:27He's Wales under-21 international.
02:29He broke into the first team in 2023 with that memorable nice six-minute winner against Southampton.
02:38Three goals in 33 appearances.
02:40He's seen as a bit of a future star, a bit of a building block.
02:44But can he be focal in League One?
02:48Can he rise to that challenge of dropping a division?
02:51Some players will.
02:53Some players thrive.
02:54Can Kian Ashford be that man for Cardiff City and really boost the promotion bid and get them back to the championship?
03:04Obviously, the goals have come in and Brian Barry-Murphy's been so clear that he came in and Vincent Tan was set.
03:10This is what you need to do.
03:11We don't want to be a League One club for more than any longer than we have to be.
03:16So, we want to come straight back up.
03:18And that's the challenge.
03:19That's the goals.
03:19You have to get them playing straight away.
03:22Can Kian Ashford be a key member?
03:24I think so.
03:25He's a fantastic young talent.
03:27People sort of underestimate Wales' young talent.
03:30And certainly, they are better than what other people may be aware of as well.
03:35So, then look at Oli Tanner as well.
03:39The winger, obviously, formerly part of the squad under Omariza.
03:44You know, he's shown flashes.
03:46He's sort of, you know, scoring the South Wales derby was a highlight.
03:50He wants to be more influential.
03:51He wants to be a big part of this League One season.
03:54He could be crucial across that.
03:56City relegations, promotions.
03:59And he's invested a lot of his own money as well.
04:01So, maybe that sort of takeover is going to hold off.
04:04But the fact, you know, you just have to look at the fact
04:07that they are being considered for a takeover with Gareth Bale
04:10and a consortium who, you know, you have to look at other sides.
04:13Birmingham City, Wrexham, championship sides already in a flash
04:17due to massive takeovers.
04:19So, you know, Cardiff City have got a lot of positives.
04:23They've got a lot of pressure as well, you know, along with the positives.
04:26So, can they rise to it?
04:28And I think if they do keep a good core together,
04:31maybe add a few smart League One veteran signings as well,
04:35they can get straight back up to the championship.
04:38And, you know, the players and the outfits they deploy
04:40will be very crucial towards that.
04:43And, you know, the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players and the players, and the players and the players, and the players and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players, and the players.
