Representing the club on the top table were: Manager Malky Mackay, Assistant Manager David Kerslake, First Team Coach Joe McBride, Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins, team captain Mark Hudson and striker Robert Earnshaw. Hosting the question and answers session were Keith Cooper and Julian Jenkins.
Malky Mackay said the club will not play in a reserve league this season as the squad is not big enough to do so. However, the team will have a development squad that will feature players from the Academy, young professionals and first team squad members who are recovering from injury. The squad will play reserve matches against the best available opposition on a regular basis, but there will be no fixture list as such.
When asked about coaching methods for the forthcoming campaign, David Kerslake said the manager intends the side to play a high-tempo possession game that will involve pressing the opposition in their own half and winning the ball back as quickly as possible whenever it has been lost. All training is being geared towards these tactics at present.
The manager said he had never been at a club as a player, coach or manager when so many senior players have left during one summer. He said he was proud of the fact that the captains of Scotland and Wales have both joined the club in recent weeks and suggested the fans should be equally as proud. He added that his squad-building programme definitely isn't completed yet, but any more recruits must be cost-effective.
Robert Earnshaw stated the decision to come back to Cardiff had taken time. He said the move had to be right as the club's plans for the future were very important to him. Earnie sounded happy with the manager's ambitions and said he was delighted to be back.
Gethin Jenkins said the club is no nearer to arranging a deal with the Langston Corporation over the unpaid loan notes debt. He stated the forensic accounting investigation into how the debt was originally arrived at and how the loan was arranged is ongoing, and added that the club is also waiting for Langston to get in touch regarding further negotiations.
The panel was asked about the alleged leaks and rumours that are frequently appearing on internet message boards. Gethin Jenkins stated many of the so-called updates that are being published are very wide of the mark, while others are simply made up. He said the club cannot respond to every rumour that appears on message boards and only does so when it is felt necessary. He added that he feels message boards are the modern-day equivalent of fanzines and that everybody has the right to express an opinion, but said some of the internet rumours have undoubtedly been damaging to the club.
Malky Mackay talked of what he described as "the nasty, nasty rumours about Steve McPhail's health." He said McPhail had come to see him after two members of the player's family had got wind of the stories and contacted him out of concern. Mackay said the rumours were "despicable" and urged those who had published them to start showing some responsibility towards their club and its players.
When asked about loan players, the manager said the loan system could be fantastic when used properly, but added it is imperative for a club to do its homework properly and be sure the player wants a loan move for the right reasons.
The panel was asked about the recent decision to cut the number of substitutes at Football League matches from seven to five. Gethin Jenkins said it was simply a cost-saving exercise and all but three of the seventy two Football League clubs had voted in favour of it. Malky Mackay said it would be detrimental to the development of young players and almost all managers would have voted against the idea.
The subject of the relationship between the players and the fans last season was talked about. Mark Hudson apologised for the fact that the players seldom acknowledged the supporters at away games once the final whistle had sounded, but added the players certainly didn't regard the fans with any lack of respect. Nevertheless, he said this year's team would definitely be making a greater effort to bond with the supporters and his manager echoed Hudson's sentiments.
Malky Mackay was asked whether he would prefer his side to win 1-0 or 5-4. He said he certainly doesn't want his defenders to concede four goals in any game and his strikers are keen to score as often as possible, so 5-0 victories will do fine.
Gethin Jenkins was asked about the club's relationship with the press. He said the manager is the heartbeat of a football club and Malky Mackay is a good communicator. He acknowledged there were problems last season in particular and said there were two sides to the argument, but suggested a new era at the club should see the situation change. Mackay himself said there has to be a good relationship between the manager and the local press and it should be based on honesty. He said he is happy to take criticism as it comes with the territory, but he takes umbrage when journalists print things that are clearly inaccurate and obviously detrimental to the club.
The panel was asked if Kevin Nolan's recent comments about the game at West Ham on Sunday being Cardiff's cup final would serve as a motivation for the team. David Kerslake said the team would have been going full tilt for ninety minutes regardless of Nolan's comments and added that nobody needs to be listening to rubbish like that from a fellow professional.
Malky Mackay stated he's been very fortunate this summer as he's managed to sign all of his major targets. He suggested one or two of the free transfers could have gone elsewhere for better money but had joined Cardiff as they believed in what the club is trying to do, and said that was a fact. However, Mackay added he is still looking to strengthen the squad and fully intends to do so in the coming weeks.