Lawrence gets Sam backing

Last updated : 20 September 2004 By Michael Morris
Sam Hammam has spoken to the Echo today and says that for now Lennie keeps his job. Despite losing 6 of the last 7 games, inc 4 straight home defeats without us scoring a goal Lennie gets his Chairmans backing. I can only assume we cannot afford to sack him.

The pair travelled together from London last night and the conversation was about the current situation.

"We talked all the way from London about what we need to do," he told the Echo. "Lennie Lawrence is the Cardiff City manager and that has not changed."

"I love this man, but if a decision has to be made I will make it. We talked to take this forward. He is a good manager, an honest man. Lennie Lawrence might be manager of Cardiff City for many years - or for another hour or two.

"Our situation, lying second from bottom, is unacceptable to me and every Cardiff City fan. It is also unacceptable to Lennie Lawrence.

"The question I must ask as club owner is what will a change achieve? Will that make us zoom up the table? Say we appoint the best manager on this planet. He will say half the team is crap, give me a zillion, trillion pounds.

"We already have the players, we've spent more than £13m in assembling this team. We are just about to start our new stadium and, because of that, the only money available to strengthen the team is the Earnshaw money (sold to West Brom for £3.625m.

"This should not be happening. I am angry, but I am also calm. The question is how will turn this around. There is one thing for certain and that is Terry Burton is our assistant manager and, no matter what happens, he will not step up to manager."

Lawrence will take chanrge at Milton Keynes tomorrow with a squad that will contain untried youngsters. Injuries and a lack of of depth mean we have run out of first team players.

We are missing Margetson, Langley, Croft and Page for sure. Probably without Fleetwood, Weston and Boland. John Robinson is away on compassionate leave.

We are left with

Warner, Alexander, Barker, Collins, Gabbidon, Vidmar, Bullock, Kavanagh, McAnuff, Parry, Campbell, Lee and Thorne as the only 13 senior players available.

Lennie has added youngsters Byron Anthony, Nicky Fish, Joe Ledley and Cameron Jerome to the squad.

Jerome scored a hat trick for the U18's on Saturday. With goals so hard to come by at the moment throwing an unknown rookie in might just do the trick. He can do no worse.

Sam says above that money is available to srenghten but still nothing happens. Gregan has gone to Leeds, Carter to Sunderland. West Ham have signed several loan players in recent weeks. Leeds have also take Ormerod from Southampton.

The situation beggars belief. After Milton Keynes we are away at Wolves and Burnley before playing Leeds at NP. On current form we will be lucky to get a point from the league games and will be dumped out of the cup.

What is going on?