IT’S SO GOOD TO BE BACK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE, SAYS VINCENT
Cardiff owner Vincent pays tribute to Warnock for promotion
PETALING JAYA: Cardiff owner Tan Sri Vincent Tan paid tribute to team coach Neil Warnock for winning promotion to Premier League.
Cardiff returned to the Premier League when a goalless draw at home to Reading on Sunday was enough to secure their second-placed finish after their promotion rivals Fulham fell to a 3-1 loss to Birmingham.
The draw saw Cardiff return to the Premier League after a season in the top flight competition in 2013-2014 and for Warnock, it would be a record eighth promotion in English football and a fourth time as manager in the Premier League, after stints with Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace.
Warnock is the oldest coach working in Britain at the age of 68 when he was hired in October 2016 to take charge of the 15th club of his 36-year managerial career.
Vincent, who bought Cardiff in 2010 and invested heavily in the club to propel them to win the Championship in the 2012-2013 season, said he was glad to see the team in top flight again.
“I’m very happy, we’ve been away from the Premier League for almost five years. It is so good to be back. Thanks
to Neil Warnock and his boys. They did a great job. I’m most pleased,” said Vincent to the DailyMail.co.uk.
“It was an easy decision (to appoint Warnock). Actually, the chairman recommended him. And when I heard his track record, I said ‘yes, he’s the man for us’. He’s done very well for us. Thank you Neil Warnock.”
“Thank you very much to our fans, the management and all the staff at Cardiff City Football Club.”
The Bluebirds’ were in some form of a mess some 18 months ago when they were at the other end of the table, but Vincent’s decision to bring the experienced manager to the Welsh capital paid dividends.
He guided the team to a mid-table finish at the end of his first season and has been the driving force behind an improbable promotion campaign this season despite spending a fraction of the outlay of rival clubs like Aston Villa, Derby and Middlesbrough.
With Wolverhampton cruising to the second-tier title, Cardiff, the gritty battlers clinched second-placed finish with a place in the Premier League and a guaranteed windfall of at least US$ 230mil ( RM950mil), potentially more.