Stack hoping to build on Dibble’s work after grasping key role for Bluebirds
CARDIFF City have confirmed the appointment of Graham Stack, the new goalkeeping coach who has joined from his position as head of academy goalkeeping at Watford.
He replaces Andy Dibble, no mean feat given he was such a fans’ favourite around these parts, with Steve Morison now having compiled a completely new backroom staff, made up of Tom Ramasut, Mark Hudson, Stack and fellow new arrival, which has also just been confirmed, PJ Wilson, who will become the club’s head of physical performance after joining from Bath Rugby.
Stack’s role in pre-season will be an interesting one. Dibble was always hands on and heavily involved with the recruitment and management of goalkeepers at the club and one suspects the newly-appointed coach will have a similar remit.
Speaking about his appointment, Stack said: “I’m really pleased to be here. It’s an incredible place. I actually came to Cardiff on trial while I was at Plymouth Argyle and spent a month in the city, and thoroughly enjoyed my time here.
“Steve Morison is someone I have spoken to a lot over the years through football and after discussing the plans for the future, this felt like the right move for me.
“I’m delighted to be coming in to work with the goalkeepers who we have, and I believe it is going to be competitive. We’ve got some incredible talents on that side.
“Everyone has been hugely complimentary about the club. It’s exciting times for Cardiff City. We’ve got a lot of new faces, who will be looking to make a positive impression. This project is something I’m really looking forward to being a part of.”
Two of those new faces, of course, are new goalkeeper signings Jak Alnwick and Ryan Allsop, who have signed from St Mirren and Derby County respectively. At one stage Cardiff were resigned to the fact they wouldn’t be able to get Allsop, such was the demand for his signature, but view it as a real coup to have got it over the line. The aforementioned duo join Dillon Phillips, who ended last season as the club’s No.1 after it was announced that Alex Smithies would depart. That’s three firstchoice goalkeepers all vying for one spot when the season kicks off on July 30.
Lest we forget that Cardiff also have Rohan Luthra in their ranks, too, and have offered a new contract to longtime Bluebird and former Wales youth international George Ratcliffe. Surely something now has to give in that department? Should Ratcliffe sign, Cardiff will have five goalkeepers over the age of 20, all of whom will have designs on playing first-team football in the coming years.
As the players report back for preseason in earnest on Wednesday, most of which will be for testing, Stack will no doubt be running the rule over his goalkeeping options and decisions will have to be made before the transfer window closes.
As Stack himself alluded to, “It is going to be competitive. We’ve got some incredible talents,” however it is now down to him to assess the glovemen’s pecking order over the coming weeks. In any case, it surely seems highly unlikely all five will be at the club when the transfer window finally closes on September 1.
WILL Vaulks has explained his decision to reject offers from the Championship to link-up with League One heavyweights Sheffield Wednesday.
WalesOnline reported that the Owls were keen on the midfielder’s signature, however the Wales international was understood to be keen on staying in the Championship. But, speaking about the move, Vaulks explained just why he chose Hillsborough over many other potential destinations.
“There was interest from the Championship... to be honest it was to be part of a club that wants a successful period and that wants to have promotion and then kick on after that,” he told the club’s website.
“The manager played a massive part in it. No one needed to tell me how big the club is; I am well aware of how big the club is.
“I have been around here long enough and played here enough times to know the size of the club.
“I had positive communication with the gaffer and the plans for the future. I wanted to be part of it and it didn’t take too long and I am happy to be here now.”
He added: “No disrespect to the league but I don’t think there are many other clubs that I would have wanted to join in the league. I wanted to be part of a club that has ambition, which it (Wednesday) certainly does, and it needs to get back higher up in the leagues. It is something that I am here to try and help the club do.”
Portsmouth are reportedly growing more optimistic over the signing of former Cardiff City midfielder Marlon Pack.
WalesOnline revealed that Pack had interest from Bristol City, Shrewsbury and Pompey, having held talks with all three clubs. The Robins’ interest appeared to wane quickly, however that cannot be said for Pack’s first club, Portsmouth, who have been keen on making a new midfield addition this summer.
And the Portsmouth News report that Danny Cowley’s side are increasingly confident about signing their former player this summer.
They claim negotiations between the two parties are ongoing and hope a deal for the 31-year-old, who hails from Portsmouth, can be wrapped up soon. Meanwhile Cardiff City transfer target Josh Laurent has been confirmed as a new signing by Stoke City.
The Bluebirds held talks with Laurent, whose contract at Reading expires this summer, with Steve Morison having had a close personal relationship with him from their playing days together at Shrewsbury Town.
However there seemed to be a resignation at Laurent would head elsewhere this summer, with so many Championship clubs understood to be keen on his signature. And, it seems, the Bluebirds’ Championship rivals Stoke have come out on top in this race.
Laurent, who has signed a three-year deal and joins former Bluebird Aden Flint at the Bet365 Stadium, said: “I’m really happy to get it done. There has been interest from Stoke for a while and as soon as it became clear I was going to become a free agent they called me and let me know just how interested they were. They showed me how much they wanted me.
“The manager went down to London to talk to me and that meant a lot.
“He told me how much he wanted me and assured me that I would play. It was all down to him really because he made me feel wanted and spelt out how he felt he could progress my career.”