Making a celebrity appointment in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backfired for Cardiff City. The nine months he's been in charge have seen the club fail to avoid relegation from the Premier League and after a bright start to Championship football, slump to one point from 12 and a collapse of any sort of cohesion.
Solskjaer has been given the riches by Vincent Tan to mould a squad full of decent players but they run onto the pitch unsure of where to play, what to do and wondering if they will play alongside their team mate in the next game.
The turn over of players from the squad on a game by game basis is alarming at any level. The decision v Middlesbrough to take off a forward at half time to replace him with a midfielder when the side were a goal down was just bizarre, especially when soon after he took off midfielders and replaced them with strikers. It's just all over the place.
The back four changes more often than Kate Moss at a photo shoot.
So I have full support for the decision to relieve the Norwegian of his duties and that should be confirmed on Thursday.
Where the problem arises is who do Cardiff appoint next? And more concerning to me is who makes that appointment?
Chairman Mehmet Dalman risked his reputation on Solskjaer. Back in January after appointing Solskjaer Dalman said
“Yes, I feel like the cat who just got the cream!”
“I wanted to act with speed and get the right man in quickly.
“There were candidates who rang up, big name managers who wanted to come to Cardiff.
“It was good that demand was there, but my focus was always on Ole. I am 100 per cent convinced he is the right man for Cardiff City.”
It looks lke the cream went sour.
Vincent Tan does not have the experience needed to know who to appoint and the fear is he will just try to sign up a name he's seen on the TV before. Much the same way as they selected Solskjaer I guess.
Cardiff are missing a senior football figure and one that has the balls to stand up and tell Vincent Tan what is a good idea and what isn't.
Fans are leaving the club, blue shirt sales from outside sources are outselling official red shirts and game after game the supporters cheer for a return to blue.
We are at a pivotal time at Cardiff City. Vincent Tan could make a number of very significant decisions that could see the fans and the club re-unite after two years of a fan base torn apart and an influx, and now exodus of glory seeking fans.
Put your ego away Mr Tan and do what's right for Cardiff City and it's fans. Forget the red route and get everyone back on side again. Appoint a solid manager and pledge a future that the fans can believe in and support.
Ultimately we all want the same thing.